Valentine police officer marks a decade of service

VALENTINE, Neb. - Amid a nationwide struggle to recruit and retain law enforcement officers, one Valentine police officer is celebrating a major milestone: a decade of service.

In his weekly media update, Police Chief Jamon Slama shared his congratulations:
“Most importantly, congratulations to Officer Jasmine Hoefs for her ten years of service with the Valentine Police Department.”

Hoefs’ journey hasn’t been without challenges. In 2022, she faced a life-threatening injury on duty when she was struck by a front-end loader while responding to a medical call during a blizzard.

“It’s a very humbling moment because you’re thinking, ‘There’s no way. This is it.’ All I could think of was wanting to say goodbye to my kids and what they’re going to go through. That’s all that was running through my head—my babies,” Hoefs shared in a previous News Channel Nebraska interview.

Her perseverance stands out in a profession seeing high turnover. A report by the International Association of Chiefs of Police found that at least 25% of officers leave their departments within the first 18-36 months of service. Like many other departments, Valentine continues to face staffing shortages.

“We have been short-staffed for years now,” said Chief Slama. “I feel good knowing it’s not just us. Every police department in the state—and across the country—is having a hard time getting police officers.”