*Kristy trains to become a Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) instructor as part of teaching women’s self-defense.*

*While working for the City of White Settlement, Sharon carried the Texas flag during the presentation of the colors at Texas Motor Speedway before a NASCAR race.*

The Texas A&M University-Texarkana campus is unique. Its spirit is evident in the students, faculty, and staff who inhabit the buildings each semester. The growth of the campus has exploded, and with that more students are arriving to join the Eagle family. During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the campus has been quiet and sparse, quite the opposite from usual when people are buzzing about. Cancelled campus events, closed offices, and online classes have been the exception to the norm. Despite the current turn of events always present are two exceptional female officers who keep watch and ensure that the campus is secure. Kristy Whisenhunt and Sharon Payne alternate night and day shifts and assist other members of the University Police Department 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Each of these ladies shares her unique journey and their combined experience and commitment to service leads them to the same location proudly working side by side.

Kristy Whisenhunt has been a corporal with the TAMU-T Police Department since 2018. She joined the department in 2016 as an officer. She previously was an investigator with the Wake Village Police Department where she served for almost four years. In addition to her shifts working on campus, Kristy is also earning her Master in Business Administration (MBA) at TAMU-T and just completed her spring semester coursework. Kristy’s work experience is varied, having served in many different capacities within law enforcement, as well as in the financial arena.

A native of Apple Springs, Texas, (outside of Lufkin), Kristy was the valedictorian at Centerville High School in 1994. She worked for Temple-Inland Corporation as a 401K benefits analyst. The large company was multi-faceted in areas of business, and Kristy was able to learn much in the area of finance. She graduated from Angelina College in 2005 with an associate’s degree in Biology. Then she commuted to Nacogdoches to Stephen F. Austin State University where she majored in Criminal Justice with a minor in Biology. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 2007 and began an internship with the Nacogdoches Police Department. Here she assisted with training sergeants while also pursuing a Master of Public Administration degree where she accrued 18 hours.

Kristy had learned of a new civilian position within the Texarkana Texas Police Department in the criminal investigative division. She and her husband, Monte, whom she married in 1999, relocated to Hooks. She spent four years with the TTPD involved in various on-site training which included questionable deaths, DOA, fingerprint specialization, court testimony, as well as processing evidence, among other duties. This enabled her to acquire a broad range of experience and knowledge and after several ride alongs with officers, she decided to enter the Police Academy in 2012. After her graduation, she accepted a position with Wake Village. By this time, her husband had changed careers, moving from his work as a process engineer to becoming a DPS state trooper.

Their home is in Old Boston, Texas, on nine acres where they have two horses and a pit/lab mix named “Doc.” When not busy with work or studies, Kristy enjoys working out and playing with “Doc.” In her work at TAMU-T she most enjoys getting to know students and the friendly camaraderie which is present on campus. She says, “We have such a diverse population here, and to learn about the different cultures is awesome. I don’t think I would have ever learned as much about people and cultures had I not come to work here.”

Kristy is also very proud of a recent accreditation the university received which she was a large part of. In 2019, TAMU-T became recognized through the Texas Police Chief Association’s Best Practices Recognition Program. It is a program in conjunction with the Texas Police Chief’s Association. As a part of the program, campuses are required to have policies and procedures in place for different aspects of law enforcement. This includes the administrative functions of a police department, as well as officer training. Kristy explains, “These standards encompass the various areas of a Police Department, and we are extremely proud to be recognized. One of my primary responsibilities as corporal was to help get our Department accredited, but now that we are recognized, it is now one of my responsibilities to make sure we keep that recognition.”

When asked what is the best aspect of her job helping others in the community she responds with, “Helping others just makes my heart happy. When people smile, I smile, and I love that. Ultimately, I hope that something I said or did here on campus will affect someone in a positive way and that positivity will be passed through their lives to someone else.”

TAMU-T police officer Sharon Payne has been employed on campus for approximately one and a half years. She joined the UPD after serving as an officer in the De Kalb Police Department. Born in San Diego, California, Sharon’s family moved to Joshua, Texas, (on the outskirts of Ft. Worth) where she grew up. Graduating from Texas Christian University in 1992 with a degree in Criminal Justice, she pursued her career in law enforcement by joining the Ft. Worth Police Department after graduating from the academy in 1994. She served as a patrol officer in Ft. Worth until 2002. She then transferred to the White Settlement and Colleyville Police Departments where she worked for several years while raising her three children, Lisa, Dustin, and Jennifer.

*Sharon enjoys interacting with the students at Texas A&M University-Texarkana.*

She took a break for a spell to manage a country club in Southlake, Texas, before the opportunity to return to law enforcement became available. She had always wanted to work in the K9 division and a position to do so was available with De Kalb in 2012. Making the move to East Texas from the metroplex was a change but a rewarding one as she loved working with her dogs in service to others. During this time she also had completed her Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training and has maintained her certification. She has acquired the status of Master Peace Officer, holding over 8,000 hours in training and service. Before arriving at TAMU-T, Sharon had also been taking courses in nursing school. She and her husband, Chase, have been married for eight years, and two of her grown daughters live in the Ft. Worth area. Her son lives here in their home where they enjoy the quiet of country life. Her husband is a cobbler, or boot maker and leather specialist. They are in the process of building a home and also enjoy traveling and spending time with family. Sharon has seven grandchildren, ranging in age from 7 months to 10 years old.

One thing that Sharon most enjoys about being a university police officer is the change of pace it provides from her previous posts, particularly when it comes to student and staff interaction. “I really enjoy being on the campus and with the students,” Sharon says. “I like to think I make a difference in their lives and help guide them in some way.” She also appreciates the more calm environment TAMU-T provides versus the very fast-paced and busy hours she has had through the years. “When I worked for the city, we could have up to 20 + calls a day from all levels of seriousness. Law enforcement’s role in helping others can vary from day-to-day and in a variety of ways.” Other intriguing aspects of her career include simply working with the public and various agencies and assisting wherever needed. Sharon has a wide range of experience within law enforcement across different communities and challenges.

*Ace, the TAMUT Eagle mascot, and Kristy during the students’ yearly PowderPuff football game.*

In 2014, an incident occurred while answering a domestic disturbance call in De Kalb. Sharon was shot in the leg when an intoxicated male aimed a weapon at her. She recovered and was told at the hospital that the bullet was within 1/8 of an inch from hitting her femoral artery. Such dangers on the job are a daily reality for officers, and their training and experience matters in instances where they are forced to make quick decisions.

One can easily tell that each of these ladies has a passion for their profession and in which they take great pride. They also are good friends who enjoy working together in a career that they love. When asked what is the most rewarding part of their profession, they each respond with similar answers but ones which reflect each of their unique personalities. Kristy says, “Just to have one person tell me how thankful they are for officers is an amazing feeling. For students, just to know that I have helped them somehow in their life journey is something I can’t explain.” And Sharon says, “It’s hard not to be with a job you love. That’s one thing I’ve always heard: if you love the job you have, you’ll never work a day in your life.” For these exceptional ladies of law enforcement, TAMU-T is a lucky place to have their service and dedication.

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Ladies of the Law