New deputy in town

The Eddy County Sheriff's Department is welcoming a new deputy to their ranks.

Allen Troy, a native of Devils Lake, N.D., recently started at the sheriff's office in Eddy County, bringing years of law enforcement experience to the office.

Troy graduated from Lake Region State College in 2015 and soon after began his policing career with the Napoleon Police Department.

A few months later he started at the Oliver County Sheriff's Office, where he accrued over four years of experience as a rural sheriff's deputy. Oliver County is just northwest of Bismarck, and is one of the most sparsely populated counties in the state with a population of about 1,800.

Most recently, Troy was back at Devils Lake working at the Lake Region Law Enforcement Center (LEC) as a dispatcher, answering 9-1-1 calls and dispatching emergency services wherever they're needed.

Eddy County is one of several nearby counties the LEC serves for dispatching and for housing inmates.

But after working there for about seven months, Troy says he's itching to get back on the streets to work more directly with the community he serves.

"I honestly didn't think I was going to get back into it. I thought I was done," said Troy about going from police work to dispatch.

"But just hearing the situations that are going on, I realized I don't want to be, knowing I have past experience, unable to get to that person because I'm stuck behind a desk. I want to be able to help out if needed."

With that renewed sense of service in mind, he recently completed training in Williston, N.D. and is now back on the streets serving the people of Eddy County.

Troy said he first became interested in pursuing a law enforcement career at a young age, back when his uncle had a police scanner and they'd be "nosey" when they heard something was going on.

Years later, after having been a peace officer for some time, he says assisting the local community is what's most enjoyable about the work he does, and that he's particularly passionate about protecting the local youth.

"I enjoy helping out, knowing that I can help somebody if they're needed when no one else is around, and just helping out the community," he said.

"And definitely the kids. That's definitely my number one priority," he added, "just making sure they're safe and that they know who to contact if they need help."

In the weeks ahead Troy said he's looking forward to becoming familiar with Eddy County and getting to know the community he now serves.