S moke S ignals
MARCH 1, 2018
9
Willamina High grad and Tribal spouse joins police force
By Danielle Frost
Smoke Signals staff writer
JJ Flynn says he has been in-
trigued by the idea of a law enforce-
ment career since he was a child
visiting his grandfather, Bill Flynn.
“He was a police officer in War-
renton and I remember going to his
house, listening to him tell stories
and looking at the police gear,” Fly-
nn says. “It really got me interested
in law enforcement at a young age.”
The 2010 Willamina High School
graduate attended Chemeketa
Community College on a baseball
scholarship and studied criminal
justice. He began working for the
Yamhill County Juvenile Detention
Center in 2012, supervising teens
performing community service.
Flynn moved on to the Federal
Detention Center in Sheridan in
2015, where he specialized in riot
control, cell extractions and pris-
oner transport in a housing unit of
120 inmates.
“It was quite a change,” he says.
“I went from talking to 13 year olds
who were high on drugs to 80-year-
old men in walkers.”
When the opportunity came to
apply for a position as an officer
with the Grand Ronde Tribal Police
Department, Flynn says he jumped
at the opportunity.
His wife, Justine Flynn, is a
Tribal member and works as a K-3
Chinuk Wawa teacher in the Edu-
cation Department.
“She told me this was her dream
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
JJ Flynn is the Grand Ronde Tribal Police Department’s newest officer. He
started on Feb. 5.
job and I knew I needed to find mine
as well,” Flynn says. “After doing a
ride along with Chief (Jake) McK-
night, I knew I had found where I
wanted to work. It is different than
in big cities and it really feels like
you are helping out your commu-
nity. I grew up here and I want to
give back.”
Now, Flynn will have the chance
to do just that after being hired
as the Tribe’s newest officer in
February.
“Before I even started here, I
came out for 2.5 hours to intro-
duce myself and meet people,” he
says. “I told my wife I was really
excited to come out here and work
with these guys. Everyone is really
welcoming.”
The Flynns live in Willamina,
where they recently purchased a
house. In his spare time, he also
helps coach football, basketball and
baseball at Willamina High School.
McKnight says it is helpful to
have the Tribe’s newest officer be
well-known in the community.
“It’s great,” he says. “JJ really
knows the Tribe and its members,
and it is easy to plug him into the
community. I am looking forward
to him being a part of our team.”
The addition of Flynn brings the
number of officers at the depart-
ment to seven.
Flynn will attend the Depart-
ment of Public Safety Standards
and Training Police Academy in
March, which includes 16 weeks
of intense learning and physical
conditioning.
Flynn says the best and most
challenging aspects of his job are
the community connections he has
made throughout his life.
“The biggest thing for me is peo-
ple realizing that even though I
know them, if they break the law,
something is going to happen,” he
says. “Just because I know them
doesn’t make it OK.”
On the same note, having a good
rapport with the community is
helpful in doing what can some-
times be a very difficult and chal-
lenging job.
“It’s all about having that respect
for each other,” Flynn says.
He says he hopes to someday
become a sergeant or lieutenant in
Grand Ronde.
“It is good to try to achieve some-
thing so you don’t remain stagnant
in a career,” Flynn says.
He says he is grateful to McK-
night and Tribal Council for the
opportunity to serve the Tribe.
“I was picked over I don’t know
how many other people,” Flynn says.
“It’s awesome to have my dream job
and I feel very blessed.”
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