For those of you who don't know our story...

It starts back three years ago when I moved to Kansas City. I first met Jacqui during break-in. She would show up on my calls from time to time and give me subtle hints on what to do. She consistently made fun of my hair and made a big deal the first day I wore mascara to work. Honestly I was just trying to make it through the stress of break-in and didn't pay much attention to her. When I was nearing the end of break-in, the major asked me where I wanted to go so I told him dog watch. Our mutual friend Whitney stepped in and informed me Jacqui had been talking about wanting me to go to her sector on PMs and be her partner. So she gave me Jacqui's number so I texted her and she did her best to convince me to come to 20 sector. So that's what I did. I rode by myself at first, but we started working out and playing ball after work at the academy to get to know each other. It wasn't long and we were sharing some of our deepest secrets with each other. It was just so easy to be around her. 

Jacqui ended up going through a rough time and needed a place to stay. Even though we hadn't known each other but for a couple of weeks, I offered up my place. Being the stubborn proud mule that she is, at first she refused, but I am persistent and eventually I got her convinced to stay. Our nights of playing ball then turned into hanging out at home after work. We then got the okay to ride together at work so we started spending ALL of our time together. When I could live in the same house, work together, and hang out with Jacqui 24/7 and not get sick of her I knew she was someone special. 

So a few months later we ended up getting a two bedroom apartment together. Soon our friendship blossomed into something more and we started developing feelings for each other that neither of us understood at first. It took a lot of time for us to get comfortable. I can remember feeling judged when we would walk to our car holding hands. If we saw someone we would quickly let go and keep walking. Neither of us understood our feelings at first, we just knew we were so drawn to each other. 

We started dating June 10, 2014. Our first date we went out to eat to PF Changs. Those of you who know me know that I do not venture very far from American cuisine. I am a full-blown country girl from Iowa. I like meat and potatoes, but I knew she loved it so that's where I took her. I guess I lived to talk about so the meal was "okay."

The next few months we just tried to get comfortable with our new lifestyle. I remember being uncomfortable each time we were in public. It was easier to hang out at home so that's what we did most of the time. In July she told her mother about us, the idea didn't go over very well. In August I told my mom.  I can remember telling my sister Lisa first to break the ice thinking it would make it easier to tell mom. All I remember is bawling on the phone to both of them. I'm not sure how they understood a word I said. To say it has taken a lot of time to get comfortable being public with each other would be a understatement. It was new for the both of us, new to our families, and just something that took time to understand fully. 

On August 11th, 2014 Jacqui and I were on patrol and had just stopped at car near Truman and prospect. It was close to the end of our shift so we were both done with the night. We let the guy go with a warning and were in our cars with our lights on and a car flew by us in the lane next to us. I was pissed that he didn't move over a lane so I wanted to stop it. Jacqui didn't want to but she went with it. It had Iowa tags from Pocahontas county and didn't respond back to the car. We approached the car, got their information, and went back to the car. Jacqui started running the people and I said crap, I forgot to get the vin. So we went back to the car, I got the vin and ran it while standing next to the car. The car responded back stolen. It was an "oh shit" moment for us. In the academy they teach you how to do a felony car check from the cover of your car. We were up close and personal with the occupants so that wasn't an option. I asked the driver to step out while Jacqui held on the passenger. He stepped out and followed my verbal commands. When I went to put hands on him, he turned around, pushed me, and took off running. So then I was in a foot chase. During the foot chase we were running down a hill and I tried to tackle him. He broke free and I landed on my knees and then my face. I got up and continued to run, but I realized my radio wasn't working so I stopped got out my cell phone and called dispatch. I continued looking for this guy with my gun in one hand and cell phone in the other. I realized the situation wasn't worth my safety so I quit pursuing the suspect. I didn't think it had been that long from my last radio transmission and from when I called dispatch, but during that time they tried to get ahold of me and I wasn't answering. There is not a worse feeling in the world then when you know someone is into some shit and they don't answer up on the radio. When I called dispatch she was like "oh thank god, are you okay?" I then realized how long it felt to the people who were waiting to hear from me, especially Jacqui. That night everything changed for Jacqui and I. When I didn't answer my radio, Jacqui got worried and could no longer focus on what she needed to do as an officer. That night we realized how much the other meant to us and we realized we could no longer ride in the same car together. It was time to come out to the department and tell people we were a couple. Even after that it was hard for us. We still felt like we were consistently judged and we were dealing with some deep personal stuff on top of it, but all that just brought us closer together. We went through a lot of hard times the first year we were together. It just felt like it was one bombshell after another, but we were each other's rock through all of it. 

In the time we have been together we have accepted our lifestyle and realized love is all that matters. We have had people who support us and we have had people who don't, but we don't care. I have never been more close or trusted anyone more in my whole life. Every day I fall in love with her more and more. We are there for each other all the time. We trust each other with anything. We communicate about everything. Even when it's not an easy conversation to have, we still have the conversation. Our relationship is 50/50. And the best part? We both do everything! We don't have the gender stereotypes where the woman does the laundry cleaning and cooking and the man takes out the trash. We both do it all! I have never been in a better relationship. She is so good to me and I could not be happier. Our relationship started out how they all should, we were best friends first and now I have best friend for life. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life taking care of each other.