Christian Rivas wanted real-life experience in law enforcement before he sought to attain his long-time goal of teaching college-level criminal justice.
He was able to get that experience at the Great Bend Police Department (GBPD) and now is the instructor/coordinator for the Criminal Justice Program at Barton Community College.
“I am grateful to the police department for the opportunity to be part of the real world of law enforcement,” said Rivas, a long-time Great Bend resident. “I am so fortunate they were willing to invest in me even though everyone knew my ultimate goal was to teach. I know the value of education and want to give back to students.”
Rivas retains his law-enforcement commission as a part-time officer and is credentialed as a hostage-crisis negotiator Level I. (There are three levels.)
He teaches 20 students in four classes at Barton, while coordinating the program.
“The partnership between the police department and Barton is mutually beneficial,” Rivas noted. “Capt. Scott Bieberle and Lt. Jason Settle have already been guest instructors for a class where the focus was on how law-enforcement agencies recruit and train officers.
“Having the department as a community partner is so important to our students,” he added. “Experienced officers bring new perspectives to our classes.”
Barton, in turn, can offer benefits to the police department. “We can be a source for prospective employees,” Rivas explained. “Barton also has training equipment that is available to law enforcement.”
Real-world experience
Rivas served the GBPD as an intern in the summer of 2021 and was a full-time officer for two years after that. He started at Barton in June of this year.
As an intern, he learned about every division in the department, shadowed officers, reviewed policies and retirement benefits, and revamped the job-description posting.
However, while he tended to some of these basics, Rivas did note that a couple of memorable experiences remain with him today.
“While I was a full-time officer, one highlight was helping bridge the gap between law enforcement and the Hispanic community,” recalled Rivas, who is bilingual. “Sometimes it was translating for someone who may otherwise not trust the police or be able to communicate effectively.
“Other times, I could help build positive relationships within the Hispanic community so that law enforcement could better understand their needs and wants.”
Another highlight for Rivas was a first-hand look at the local dedication to public service.
“Fellow officers demonstrated on a day-to-day basis their commitment to serving the public and keeping us safe,” Rivas commented. “Working alongside these people was a great experience, which I continue to cherish as I transition into my new position at Barton.”
Rivas added that these public servants include not only police but also deputies, firefighters, dispatchers and court personnel.
Chief Haulmark
Police Chief Steve Haulmark made special note of Rivas’ ability to build relationships with other officers and the community as a whole.
“Early on, Christian’s strengths became apparent,” Haulmark said. “He demonstrated focused-listening skills and accurately interpreted situations; his solutions were practical.
“Christian is always open to taking on challenges,” he continued. “It was obvious he could bridge community gaps and win friends for the police department.”
Haulmark acknowledged that the department wanted to keep Rivas full-time. “But we knew up front what his goals were,” he said. “We also knew we would retain our positive professional relationship with him.
“He is available to assist with out-of-the-ordinary events and outreach projects. The relationships we cultivate will pay dividends for our department and the college, which is lucky to have him. Christian is a quick study and emotionally intelligent. These skills will serve him well.”
Because of his real-world experience, Rivas can “humanize our profession, while his students have positive contacts with officers when we are invited to help in the classroom,” the chief added.
