If you’ve been to the Mill Valley Police station recently, you’ve probably seen a new face behind the front desk.
That would be Mallory Boggs, the new Police Communications Clerk. She joined the department in November, and has spent the last few months getting settled in. Boggs replaces Meaghan Pang, who left for a dispatcher position in San Rafael, and joins Dorothy Hancock, a veteran behind the desk.
“Going hands on has taught me a lot,” Boggs said. “Every day is different. You never what you’re going to get.”
Police Chief Angel Bernal introduced Boggs to the City Council at a meeting last month.
“Competent with technology and comfortable with Microsoft Office products, coupled with good customer service skills, and being a quick learner, she is rapidly fitting in to her new career at Mill Valley PD,” Bernal said.
The department received 150 applications for the position, and a three-person panel interviewed 12 candidates.
“The panel felt she outshined everyone else,” Bernal said. Often the first person to come in contact with the public, the panel was especially impressed with her communication skills, particularly with people who can be agitated, emotional or upset when visiting or calling the police station.
“We need people who are very calming and don’t exasperate that,” Bernal said.
Boggs was born and raised in Petaluma. She graduated from Petaluma High School and attended Sonoma State University, where she completed a bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice.
She also trained as a police cadet at the San Rafael Police Department, where she assisted with DUI checkpoints, worked with the State Alcohol Beverage Control Department on under age alcohol stings, filed police reports, and managed general clerical work, Bernal said. She also taught about law enforcement at events in San Rafael, but when her three years as a police cadet were over, she decided it wasn’t quite right for her.
“I realized I didn’t want to be a police officer,” she said.
She began working as a bookkeeper at a few Petaluma businesses, and became a child care provider to two small children for a family in Mill Valley.
“The family relied on Mallory a great deal and told us how much they were going to miss her,” Bernal said, “with the children making a point to say how much they liked Mallory and insisting that she come back to visit since she was still working in their city.”
Although she didn’t want to be a police officer, Boggs still wanted to be involved with law enforcement, and the Communications Clerk position was a perfect fit, she said. She's also engaged to a Marin County Sheriffs Deputy and plans to get married this summer.
Boggs said she’s looking forward to building a relationship with Mill Valley.
“I feel like I’m having an effect on the community," she said.
Here's what else is happening on Mill Valley Patch
- When Can I File My 2013 Tax Return?
- Duo Opens Specialty Running Shop in Tam Junction
- Mill Valley’s Priciest Homes: 351 Lovell Avenue
For local news like this wherever you go, follow us! And don't forget to sign up for our daily e-newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
"Like" us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Sign up for the daily Mill Valley Patch newsletter | Start a blog
