New Spring Valley officer Sarah Kinkin discusses goals, new responsibilities

Just days after her history-making promotion as Spring Valley’s first female police sergeant, Sarah Kinkin is talking about her next move.

“It is a true honor,” Kinkin said of her new position. “A personal goal of mine is now fulfilled, and I am very proud to be tasked with additional responsibilities.”

Kinkin is the department’s lead investigator, a juvenile officer and crisis intervention team member with a background in mental health and elderly abuse service, and she said she feels ready to hit the ground running in a supervisory role.

“I feel very prepared through training and with guidance from personal mentors I have had throughout my career to take on my new role,” she said. “I have handled a large variety of cases, and I feel my experience enables me to assist others and offer guidance as needed.

“Thus far, my favorite role has been investigative work. I try to stay current on open source investigative techniques and utilize these resources as often as possible. There is so much information to be gleaned from online sources, and that information can provide critical insights into many crimes. A large part of investigations is talking to people whether they are a witness, victim or suspect. I enjoy interviewing people and understanding their motivations and perspectives.”

Kinkin said one of her immediate goals involves a partnership with Arukah Institute of Healing in Princeton.

“Chief Curran recently partnered our department with Arukah. Through the partnership, our department has crisis counselors available at no cost to the citizens of Spring Valley. I feel this is essential to our community and an invaluable resource,” she said.

“I would like to continue to develop the program to ensure we can help as many people as possible and help community members be more cognizant of local resources. We are also working closely with the Perfectly Flawed Foundation, and I would like to help develop that partnership further,” she said.

Does she see herself as a role model?

“That’s a very difficult question, and I cannot answer it without giving respect and acknowledging those who came before me, such as Commander Sarah Raymond of the Peru Police Department,” she said. “I have always felt that if I did the job correctly and to the best of my ability, it could possibly make it easier for women in the future.

“If someone has an interest in a nontraditional gender role occupation and they can see someone who looks like them in that occupation, it may make it easier for them to realize their goal is realistic and attainable. However, I strongly feel that if one is able to do the job it does not matter what gender, race, religion, etc., they are.”