Girl Scouts honor Phoenix police lieutenant with “World of Courage” award
As an Arizona Girl Scout alumnus and now a member of the Phoenix law enforcement community, Lieutenant Jacqui MacConnell personally understands what courage is all about. “Being a cop does take courage; it’s a scary job … it’s also what draws us to the job,” professed MacConnell.
MacConnell joined the Phoenix Police Department in 1994 and has had extensive assignments that include patrol, sex crimes, and drug enforcement. She became a student of martial arts in 1985—an education that has no doubt provided her with great insight into the job she enjoys with the department. She is a certified Defensive Tactics instructor with Arizona P.O.S.T. and has taught classes at the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy since 2000. Small in stature, MacConnell especially can relate to women and the challenges they may encounter if ever confronted by an attacker. She has been working with the Girls Scouts for nearly three years, teaching groups two to three times a year about safety in the hopes that they will reduce their likelihood of becoming victims of crime.
The Arizona Cactus-Pine Council recognized Lieutenant MacConnell during their annual award ceremony held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa on Saturday, December 5, 2009. MacConnell was presented with the organization’s “World of Courage” award for her outstanding contributions to scout members who recognize her as a role model for girls and young women.
When asked about the courage it takes to be a police officer, MacConnell explained, “Being a cop does take courage; it’s a scary job and it takes courage to go to work everyday. But, being a police officer is also what draws most of us to the job—those adrenalin rushes! It is courage that gets us through those situations.”
She was motivated to get involved with the Girl Scouts after seeing that a lot of the victims she encountered during her police work were victimized because they did not know some basic safety precautions. She became tired of seeing victims of crimes victimized when the situations could have been easily prevented.
Perhaps one defining moment during her police career came in 2003 when Lieutenant MacConnell met three children who had been living in cribs that had been made into cages; the caged children were twins, age 5. Their 8-year-old brother shared their room. This horrific scene was what motivated MacConnell to do more for children like these victims by founding Angels on Patrol. Phoenix officers identify youth who have either been severely abused or whose caregivers are facing extreme hardships. The organization, supported by charitable donations, then assists with scholarships, medical expenses and personal nurturing.
MacConnell’s colleagues recognize her contributions, as is evident in this quote from one of them: “Jacqui’s type of determination ultimately motivates those in her charge to be compassionate themselves. In her profession, she has made other officers witness and feel the results of caring about those in the community.”
Lieutenant MacConnell said this about being selected for the “World of Courage” award: “It is an honor to receive this award and I am humbled. I know there is much more that needs to be done to teach the community (all ages) how to protect themselves, and there is always much more to be done to help those who are less fortunate.”