Know Your Officer: Roger Fields

Major Roger Fields serves as assistant chief of police for the Cape Girardeau Police Department. He has held the position for about five months after the retirement of former assistant chief Randy Roddy. Fields is also the chairman of Seniors and Lawmens Together.

How long have you been in law enforcement?

I just celebrated 21 years in April. I began working for the Cape Girardeau Police Department as a patrol officer on April 18, 1988. I started my law enforcement career as a part time corrections officer.

Are you from the area originally?

I'm from the area known as lower Arnold, Mo. When I was younger, I went to several different schools: in Kansas, in Texas. My wife, Marsha, works for Missouri Probation and Parole. I have two boys, who are both active in the church, music, and football.

What first sparked your interest in law enforcement?

In working with juveniles, I realized it wasn't so much the children who had the serious issues, it started with the adults, their parents. At the time, I was looking for a full-time job.

What would you call your favorite part of this job?

Everybody I have ever worked with will always tell you that they want to help people, and this is still the best opportunity to do that. The law enforcement memorial, a Seniors and Lawmen Together project, is something that's becomevery important to me. I got involved in that through fallen officer Timothy Ruopp's sister, an aunt by marriage. None of those folks ever discouraged me from being in law enforcement despite what happened to Tim. I've gained a lot of friends through the families of fallen officers.

What's your best "war story?"

Some of them are documented in Scoundrels to the Hoosegow, Cape Girardeau County Proseucting Attorney Morley Swingle's book. Most of my stories revolve around the personalities of officers with whom I've worked. That's my favorite part of the job. I can remember the first call I went on with one officer, Nick Swoboda who had a military background. We had to respond to a report of a drunken college student who had been yelling in the street. We got him calmed down and as soon as we went to believe he went right back to what he'd been doing. So Swoboda goes over to him and says "sir, I distinctly recall my superior officer telling you to shut your mouth," very serious and military-like.

What is the biggest challenge of working in law enforcement?

It would have to be dealing with people's disappointment. The victims can't ever really be truly satisfied. Things tend to be tilted in favor of the accused, and the victim often seems somehow forgotten.

How do you spend your downtime?

I like to go back and visit my hometown, spending time with my family, doing some fishing.

What do you consider the most important qualifications for someone pursuing a career in law enforcement?

I think patience and understanding rank number one. Over the years I've come to find out that if you're asked why you want to be in law enforcement, and the words a car and a gun are in your answer, you're probably not the guy I'm looking for.