Derrick Deck’s main mission in life is to give back. As a sheriff’s deputy and school resource officer, Deck’s day-to-day activities revolve around serving the community.
“Being a police officer was something I've always wanted to do. That's always been a passion of mine; to help people. In both of those careers my passion has always been to just try and make sure I'm helping people when they need it most,” Deck said.
Deck spent three years as a sheriff’s deputy for the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office and was recently transferred to work as a School Resource Officer in La Porte schools. As a sheriff’s deputy, Deck found his everyday interactions with the public to be incredibly fulfilling.
“My favorite part is just interacting with people. Not everything about policing is negative. In fact, that's a very slim margin of things that happen with police,” Deck said. “It’s just interacting with the people and giving them a little sense of security. Be there for them, hear them out, do the best you can to resolve whatever issues they have going on. Then more importantly, when someone was in desperate need of emergency services, that's when we definitely rise to the occasion and try to make sure that we're living up to the sash. Interacting with the public and being there when someone needs you the most is always important.”
There are many situations, both good and bad, that stick with an officer after the day is over. One of Deck’s most impactful memories happened to a fellow officer. On December 24, officer Tyler Oberholtzer performed lifesaving CPR on an unconscious woman after an accident on the side of the road. Deck claims that moments like that, even if they don’t happen to him, make the job worthwhile.
“That is definitely one of the things that makes me proud to work here. We surround ourselves in this department with people who respond immediately and appropriately to things that happened," Deck said. "In that instance, even though I wasn't there, when something good like that happens it erases probably 15 bad memories that I’ve got in my head. When you're an officer, other officers are instantly your blood brothers. That's something that I'm proud to say. I work for a department where one of our deputies recently did that, even though it wasn't myself."
Before his work with the Sheriff’s office, Deck worked in the court system as the chief of staff. During his time there, he helped lead a community outreach program called the Exchange Club. The idea was originally brought up by a coworker, and after a heavy amount of persuasion, Deck agreed to become president.
“In the beginning, I was hesitant. I knew it would be a lot of work, and I didn't know if it would actually bring a lot of interest in people because it was volunteer-based. I decided to go to a few meetings and then within a month they convinced me to go into the charter as the president of the Exchange Club,” Deck said.
The Exchange Club worked to build connections within the community throughout La Porte County. The club specifically aimed to bridge the gap between some of the more isolated communities in the county.
“I was just so honored and proud of the way we connected with the community,” Deck said. “We engaged them as much as we could at various places just trying to come up with public events free for kids and doing whatever we could to be a part of something. It was good to give back. We were able to communicate with a lot of other business owners with that. There was a lot that the community came together specifically for La Porte County.”
Deck feels a huge responsibility in bringing awareness to the good that happens within La Porte County. His main goal as an officer, leader, and community member is to help in any way possible and to show the welcoming and encouraging side of the community.
“I chose to live here right after I graduated high school. I've made a life out of living in the area, getting to know a lot of people, and it's a great community. Whether it be the Exchange Club, the Sheriff's Department, the high school, or anything that I can get my hands on, I'm certainly going to try and help out to try to continue to grow LaPorte County as a way I know it to be: great for families, safe, and a great place to visit and to live. I've done everything I could to try to expand people's views of things and just highlight all the good that can be done here,” Deck said.
No matter his position, Deck’s heart for service is always the motivation behind his work. Deck’s work for La Porte County has made a lasting impression on the attitudes of citizens, and he plans to continue to positively impact the county wherever he can.
“It's just such a great place. It's filled with so many great people. Getting to work with them, serve them, and do anything I can has always been just a delight for me,” Deck said.