Making A Difference

PICTURED ABOVE

Lt. Anthony Purcell has been with the Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office for 15 years. After a stint in the Marine Corps, Purcell was drawn into law enforcement because of its team-oriented atmosphere. (Photo by Michael Moore)

Anthony Purcell’s journey from civilian to a lieutenant with the Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office was filled with both heartache and triumph.

“When I was younger, I had mixed feelings about law enforcement,” Purcell said. “In my early childhood, I grew up in a home where there was domestic violence. Back then, attitudes toward domestic violence were a little bit different. So as a child, law enforcement was not always seen in the best light.”

Purcell said those early encounters with law enforcement would often leave his mother with no support system, and, as Purcell put it, “… to her own devices.”

The cycle of violence eventually ended with his father’s death. The lieutenant said he believes the circumstances surrounding his childhood helped guide him into a life of law enforcement—choosing to be a force for good. “Eventually, this cycle of violence ended after my father was murdered,” he said. “I do think that growing up with that kind of past pushed me toward law enforcement.”

Life of Service

Purcell’s path of service began when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he spent time in the Middle East and Africa.

“I served two tours,” Purcell said. “After that, I looked at a couple job options before deciding on a career in law enforcement. I found that it was an easy transition for me. I also discovered that I enjoyed being back in a team-oriented atmosphere. That, coupled with my past, made me want to make a difference in law enforcement.”

Purcell has been in law enforcement for 23 years. Fifteen of those have been with the Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office, while the other eight years were split between the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office (Tennessee), Western Kentucky University and Henderson police departments.

His career mirrors that of many other officers.

“I have always enjoyed the diversity of duties with the Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office,” Purcell said. “I have been lucky enough to work in many different patrol assignments, and detective and special unit assignments. I have been heavily involved with my department’s tactical units as either team leader or training. I have also helped train other agency’s teams, too.”

Well-Trained

Presently, Purcell serves as JCSO’s Special Operations Team (SOT) leader, and he stressed that having well-trained deputies is a must for any agency.

“I also oversee training for JCSO,” he continued. “I enjoy planning and conducting training for the deputies. The training goes beyond JCSO. I have been a certified (Kentucky Law Enforcement Council) instructor since 2005, and I teach a course on the duties of the sheriff’s office for DOCJT several times a year all across the commonwealth.”

Purcell credits high-level training as the reason so many SOT call outs have ended successfully for all parties involved.

“Having that element of teamwork among the deputies, seeing them grow in skill, experience and confidence is well worth it,” he said.

Additionally, the devotion to training pays off when it comes to JCSO dealing with the many challenges it faces.

“Like any agency, we have our fair share of problems with illegal drugs and drug abuse,” he said. “In recent years, (the drug problem) has led to other (criminal activity) and overdoses. This, coupled with a growing population, has stretched our resources. This has forced us to look for more efficient ways to serve our community.”

The biggest challenge in 2020 has been the pandemic, and Purcell said JCSO has adjusted its methods without diminishing quality of service to its community.

“We have had to change a lot in terms of how we did business,” he said. “Our goal during this time has been to protect our deputies and staff while continuing to provide top-notch service to our community. Those services range from calls for service, to vehicle inspections and (various types of) transports and a completely different style elections (both primary and general).”

Community-Oriented Policing

While training helps with tactics and patrol, Purcell said it is also important to establish a rapport with members of the community.

“One of the best things JCSO has done is (establish) many partnerships with the local community,” he said. “These are reinforced with our outreach to homeowners associations and other community groups. These have been great ways to get the community and deputies engaged outside the normal calls for service.”

Those collaborations have been beneficial for both JCSO and the community.

“These partnerships allow us to address problems within that specific area or neighborhood,” Purcell explained. “When we can combine community requests for help with what our deputies are seeing, as well with what our data shows, it allows for a more tailored approach for the community. It also allows us to give different areas of the county the attention it needs instead of a one size fits all approach.”

By building positive community relationships, and detail in training, Purcell has enjoyed a wonderful law enforcement career, which has provided him a wonderful sense of accomplishment.

“I am lucky that I can say I have accomplished most things that I set out to do in my law enforcement career,” he stated. “I have been blessed to have made it this far in my career with only a few minor injuries. I have a great family life, and I have been fortunate to help this agency move forward in using modern technology for patrol and investigations, and helping JCSO become accredited through the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police.”

In the end, Purcell said finding stability in his personal and professional life helps with the challenges the job presents.

“It has not always been easy,” he said. “I must be available at any time for the deputies and supervisors. When I am home, that is my focus – my wife and children. My wife and kids understand the people I lead depend on me just like they do. (My family) is a really good support, which makes it a lot easier for me.”