“I feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be, doing what I’m supposed to do,” Kenny Price said just before he was sworn in to his “dream job” as a Barry County Sheriff’s deputy. The son of John Price of Battle Creek and Christina Price of Freeport, Kenny, 25, graduated from Thornapple Kellogg in 2010. He just completed three years of study to graduate from the Kellogg Community College Police Academy.

 

Being hired by Sheriff Dar Leaf and starting the job he has worked hard for is, “Awesome. Just awesome. I’ve always wanted to be in law enforcement.” He’s not worried about any problems working with the people of Barry County, many of them friends or friends of the family. Being born and living his whole life in Freeport,  he is comfortably at home in the wider community.

 

Respect and professionalism are the keys to working with people, and that’s his goal at all times, he said.  “I’m looking forward to working with people I know. I feel blessed to be working in Barry County. I’m not going anywhere, I want to build my career here.”

What drew him to law enforcement?

“I want to help people…I knew this was the best chance to do it. It’s an active job and every day is different. It’s perfect for me.”

 

He will be in field training at the sheriff’s office for three or four months. This week, he’s been doing paperwork, learning about the corrections unit inside the jail, the technologies deputies use and general orientation. He was sworn in by Leaf Tuesday with his family there to watch him take the oath and become Barry County’s newest deputy.

 

There will be challenges he knows, especially in these times, but he’s not worried about the pressure that goes with the position. “I’m ready for this job.”

 

Photos: (upper left) Barry County Sheriff’s Deputy Kenny Price.

 

(middle right) Kenny Price takes the oath of office from Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf.

 

(lower left) The Price family at Kenny Price’s swearing in ceremony: (from left) step-sister Rayni Harvey, sister Jocelyn Price, brother Michael Price, dad John Price, Kenny, mom Christina Price, sister Jessica Price, brother Karsten Price and brother-in-law Jeff Leep.