The Maple Valley Police Department announced it has hired Taryn Weatherford as a police support officer.

Her duties will include coordinating crime prevention efforts through programs such as neighborhood block watch and business watch. Weatherford will also be involved in coordinating community outreach and education by attending local events and making educational appearances throughout the Maple Valley community.

Weatherford will be an advisor and coordinator for the Maple Valley Volunteer Program, and will assist with the Maple Valley Youth Explorer Program.

She will also be coordinating community events for the department like the bike challenge,  the bike rodeo, Boy Scout and Girl Scout tours and the citizen’s academy.

Weatherford comes to Maple Valley from central California where she was born and raised. She attended Grace Davis High School and Modesto Junior College focusing her education on criminal justice. She has worked in law enforcement since 2003, previously working for the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department and the Turlock Police Department. She has held the position of community service officer, crime prevention officer, missing persons investigator and sex registration officer.