(Editor’s note: May 14-20 is National Police Week.)

The first thing you notice about Officer Adan Ortiz is his million-dollar smile and ability to defuse tense situations. A patrol officer on the night shift, he is this year’s Marshalltown Police Department Employee of the Year.

Born in Michoacán, Mexico, his family relocated to Marshalltown for employment opportunities at JBS when he was two years old.

“I started at Woodbury Elementary, then went to Anson Middle School, and high school all four years,” he said.

Upon graduation, Ortiz wasn’t sure what his long-term plans would be. He moved to California for about two years.

“But it wasn’t the same as Marshalltown,” he added. “So I decided to come back.”

He got a job at JBS, then for four years worked at the Marshalltown Water Works, but a desire to challenge himself and get more involved in the community led him to pursue a career in law enforcement.

“It was always in the back of my mind. You just have to go for it,” he said of the decision.

In August 2021, Ortiz took the oath of office and started off as a professional peace officer. His 16 weeks of basic training at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy kicked off Aug. 30.

“A lot of it is classroom oriented — getting familiar with the laws — because we want to make sure that we got that down,” he said. “A lot of it is physical. There’s a lot of running in the morning and then running in the afternoon — just trying to get your body in shape for whatever you might encounter.”

While he was able to complete training on Dec. 17, 2021, he had to suffer through the last two months of training with a broken left foot.

“Luckily I was able to finish everything in time and graduate with the class, but that did set back my field training a little bit,” he noted. “Basically 2022 was when I was able to start on my own.”

He’s active in the community and participates in MPD-sponsored events. In his free time, Ortiz likes working out and boxing. For two years, he coached youth at a local boxing gym.

Being fluent in Spanish helps Ortiz connect with immigrant groups in Marshalltown who may find it difficult to talk to an officer who only speaks English. While some MPD employees rely on a language line for translation, Ortiz likes talking with the public directly.

Being able to converse in a person’s native language is often the first step in building a positive connection.

“You can tell they’re nervous or got this weight on their shoulders because they’re not really understanding the situation, and as soon as I start speaking with them (or helping to translate), you can almost see a change in temperament,” Ortiz said.

People coming here from Mexico or Central America may have had negative interactions with corrupt law enforcement or kept their distance from the authorities out of fear of retribution from criminal elements in those countries.

“It’s a challenge. You’re not wrong about that,” he said of trying to break through those barriers.

Ortiz often starts out by introducing himself and letting the people he’s helping know he wants to build a connection on a positive foundation.

Marshalltown Police Chief Michael Tupper said that while Ortiz has only been on the job about a year and a half, he performs like a veteran officer.

“What sets Adan apart is his ability to build relationships with the public. He has an infectious smile that instantly puts people at ease. He is committed to engaging the public and to building relationships of trust,” Tupper explained. “Adan is probably the most positive and compassionate person I have ever met. He has a tremendous attitude. He has overcome significant personal health challenges, but you would never know he is going through anything due to his always positive demeanor. He has inspired all of us to be better versions of ourselves. Adan has a bright future in our police department. It has been my honor to work with him. Our community and our police department are blessed to have Adan serving and protecting.”

An aspect of the work Ortiz likes is how no two shifts are ever the same. He may pull someone over to let them know a taillight is out of order, or he might be called to respond to a domestic violence situation.

“It comes with the profession, but a lot of times, people don’t like you just because of the uniform. I like showing people I’m here to serve them and help them out,” he said.

Ortiz, who is married with two sons, ages six and eight, said working nights takes adjustments.

“I’m definitely a vampire,” he said with a laugh. “My wife Yesenia is really my support system. It’s hard because I do enjoy coming home and still doing all those things a dad does.”

Ortiz says he aspires to become an officer newbies can look up to, in the same way he found support as a new one himself. He could see a future as a sergeant or lieutenant.

“I think the only limitations we have are the ones we set,” he said. “As long as you always wake up with some kind of goal in mind, I think you’re on the right path.”