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To protect and serve

Du Quoin native realizing a dream

In a few short weeks, Du Quoin police officer Matt Coffel will be living the dream.

The 28-year-old Coffel, a Du Quoin native, is nearing the end of his field training as the DQPD's newest cop.

"He's doing very well, he's very receptive to criticism," said Police Chief Les Vancil. "He's very open-minded about learning the job and what the job entails and we hope to have him out on his own in a few weeks."

Coffel credits former DQPD Chief Jim Booker as his inspiration for entering law enforcement. Booker died in 2007 after 30 years with the department, including three as chief from 2004 to 2007.

The DQPD's K-9 officer, Jari Booker, is also named after the former chief.

"My best friend's dad (Booker) passed away and both me and his son said we would be Du Quoin police officers one day," Coffel said.

While his friend, Evan Booker, ultimately chose a different path, Coffel was determined. He worked various factory jobs until his opportunity arrived.

"He was a great guy," Coffel said of Chief Booker. "A tough love kind of guy."

Coffel attended the University of Illinois Police Training Institute, joining 81 other cadets in the 14-week program.

"They've got some awesome instructors and great role-playing scenarios," Coffel said. "They go from the smallest thing like a flag theft to all the way up to an active shooter situation and I got to meet a lot of great people up there."

After graduating from the academy last year, Coffel entered the field training officer (FTO) portion of his transition. According to Vancil, Coffel has been assigned to Det. Phillip Schimanski, but has also worked with other officers in the department on a rotational basis.

"I enjoy the FTO program we have here," Coffel said. "I think it was a positive that I get to train with several different officers rather than having one point of view."

Coffel said he has transitioned from riding along with other officers to them riding along with him and is in the last phase of the training prior to getting his own shifts on the DQPD schedule.

"Now we're in the last phase where I'm on my own, but there's somebody shadowing me," he said. "Another two or three weeks, that will be it."

Coffel was asked what it felt like coming back and working for his hometown police department.

"It's rewarding," he said. "As much as it sucks to see people on their worst day, it's not always putting handcuffs on people and taking them to jail.

"Sometimes it's just helping somebody choose a better path. I feel we've got a great police department here and I think we can continue to do good for the city of Du Quoin and continue to help people."