Working in what was once an unquestionably male-dominated field has never fazed Kristen Schultz, the public information officer for the Texarkana, Arkansas, Police Department.
In 2021, Kristen, now 37, entered the police academy to become a TAPD police officer. Two years later, in October 2023, she became the department's PIO. She was quick to clarify, however, her role goes beyond being a spokesperson for the department.
"I'm still a sworn officer and I still work the streets from time to time," she said. "Of course, I must have all the annual training, firearms training, anything we are required to have by Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training certification."
Though some women in other police departments may face differential treatment compared to their male counterparts, Kristen stressed that is not the case at the TAPD.
"It doesn't bother me working in a male-dominated career. I have been treated with respect in this department," Kristen said. "The ratio to men and women employees is close to 50/50."
Kristen is not the first female PIO for the Arkansas side. Kristi Bennet, who eventually became the TAPD's police chief, was the first woman to fill the role.
Reflecting on her journey, Kristen expressed gratitude for the experience and practice that has made her interactions with various media less nerve-wracking than before.
"From my first interview on camera to now, I think it's gotten a lot better," the PIO said. "My first interview was TXK interviewing me about Shop-With-A-Cop. It totally caught me off guard. I just remember running around with all these kids and the reporter was at the end cap and asked me if I had time for a quick video and I was like--OK."
Kristen credits her enhanced skills to experience and training sessions provided by the FBI Law Enforcement Execution Development Association. LEEDA is a nonprofit organization independent of the FBI.
"The first course I had in Denton was more of a media and public relations class, so it just teaches us more how to deal with social media as a police officer and as a PIO -- handling critical incidents with interviews and how to handle strategic planning events."
She said the key takeaway she brought home from this course was at the very root of her job as a public information officer -- fostering a stronger relationship between the police department and community.
"Whether it is Facebook or YouTube or (any media) we are building on ideas from other police departments and we want to think about what image we need out in the community. We always want to display how we care."
She's also picked up new skills.
"Six months ago, I wouldn't even be able to tell you how to edit a video and post it, so I guess you would call what I have now a specialized certification," she said.
While becoming a police officer and taking on the role of department spokesperson has been challenging, particularly during critical times in the community, law enforcement wasn't Kristen's first career choice.
Originally from White Oak, Texas, Kristen started her career in physical therapy, finding fulfillment in aiding people's recovery from surgeries and injuries.
"My first physical therapy job was in 2006. My sister and mom were in the medical profession at Good Shepherd (Medical Center) in Longview," she said. "I was working on a degree in Kilgore for general studies."
Kristen said the reason she left her job as a physical therapy technician at the hospital was health insurance and what it does to patients' care.
Kristen said even the simplest things -- like using ice or heat packs during therapy -- were being restricted by insurance policies. "These (ice or heat packs) make exercises easier to tolerate and insurance companies were saying (patients) could not have these. But as a technician, I knew that it helps ease the pain. It put a sour taste in my mouth."
Kristen said some of her favorite patients she worked with were elderly, who as a rule, had Medicare for insurance. Unfortunately, that meant they were only allowed so much care per year, she said.
"You really need visits after the surgery because they rehab longer," she said. "It would take them six months to a year to recover. It took my heart out of it, and I had to find out what profession I can help someone and really make a difference," she said. "It was an easy transition into becoming a police officer."
Kristen has associate degrees from both Kilgore and Texarkana colleges and a law enforcement degree from Southern Arkansas University-Tech. She said she only has a few hours remaining for a bachelor's degree and plans to pursue that in the future.
She lives with her redheaded, 50-pound Australian Shepherd named Navi, pronounced like Navy. "I'm not married, and I don't have any kids right now, so she is the only thing I have," she said, adding she had another dog, but it ran away.
She's interacted with TAPD's K-9 unit and witnessed officers training with the dog in a bite suit. That's something she still has some apprehension about. "Not yet," she said. "Not yet."
Kristen's journey from pursuing physical therapy to law enforcement highlights her commitment to making a positive impact on peoples' lives. With her unwavering passion and skills, she serves as a bridge between the police force and the community, embodying the essence of a true public servant.