Heather Kinsman

Photos by Greg Derr

Police officer, Marshfield

Tell us about yourself.

"Funny, stubborn, smart and, I guess, persistent. ...(I'm a) private person."

"I like to help people."

"I love animals."

"I worked in an office since I was in high school. I wanted to be out of the office."

"I like that every day you don't know what's going to happen. It could be a slow night. It could be a busy night. Strange things happen."

"Most of it's talking to people. You have to be patient. You try to talk things out and listen."

"I like to stay in shape and be healthy. I don't watch TV that much, obviously, because I work 4 p.m. to midnight."

"I'd like to go into different fields, detectives, rape investigation. ...There's all different areas that I'd eventually like to get into. ...Right now I'm just trying to establish my base as a patrolman."

THE SKINNY

RANK: Patrolman

AGE:28

HIRED IN MARSHFIELD: Part time in July 2006; full time in July 2007.

BIO: Kinsman grew up in Marshfield and graduated from Marshfield High School in 1999. After high school, she worked in an insurance office. She started taking classes in criminal justice at Massasoit Community College and took the state Civil Service police test. She was hired in Marshfield a few years later. She is transferring to Quincy College to pursue an associate's degree in criminal justice.

What did you want to be when you were a kid? A veterinarian, an ice skater and a tennis player

What would you have been if not a police officer? A nurse

Best advice you ever got: "Be persistent and be positive ...It always works out if you're positive."

Person who gave it to you: "I probably heard that a lot from my mom."

What do you do in your spare time?"Usually during the day, when I'm not working, I try to stay in shape. I go to the gym. I like to go to movies and I enjoy relaxing. I do yoga, too."