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Mark Goddard, Johnny Dennis, Rick Groves

Assistant Chief Rick Groves

Serving the Kennett

community for over 35 years

CHRIS KAISER fered a position at the Poplar Bluff Police Department
special to the ddd in 1983. After a few years, Groves made the move back
to Kennett where he was hired by then police chief, Jim
Since starting full-time with the Kennett Police De- Elliot just days before Elliot took on the role as Dunklin
partment in the mid 1980s, Officer Rick Groves has County’s sheriff.
worked his way up the ranks from an officer to Cap- “I started out with the main priority of answering
tain and assistant chief. Before coming onto the force calls,” Groves remembered. Throughout the years, as
full time, Groves was no stranger to how the force op- Groves has moved up in rank his responsibilities have
erated. “We used to have a program here in Kennett,” increased and changed. “As far as now, most of my work
Groves shared. “It was an auxiliary and it was free, you involves administrative duties,” Groves continued. As
just donated your time.” the tasks have altered, he continues to serve the public
Groves reminisced of a time before he joined the by responding to calls and patrolling the streets of the
auxiliary. He said seeing the officers around the com- community.
munity, “it would give you the feeling that everything “There have been some times when on call you think
looked so professional, that it’s something to be proud ‘why did I want to get into this?’” Groves specifically
of,” Groves said. spoke of an investigation he worked, while in Poplar
During his few years with the auxiliary, Groves helped Bluff. He was called to an apartment duplex where
out the officers at the police department. Although someone was breaking windows. Being the first on
those in the auxiliary did not carry weapons, they rode scene, he walked around the building to find the back
along with the officers and assisted in anyway they door open and the apartment in disarray. After finding
were needed. It was during this time that Groves be-
came interested in law enforcement. Soon he was of- See GROVES page 10

HEROES 2018 9