Editor’s Note: This is part of an ongoing series high­lighting staff members of the Sedona Police Department.

Name: Lucas Wilcoxson

Title: Patrol Lieutenant

Years with SPD: 23 years

Q : What inspired you to become a police officer or dispatcher?

When I left the military, I was not sure what I wanted to do. A friend of mine asked me to do a police ride along in the Phoenix area and I saw how he impacted people in a posi­tive way. Every interaction he had with people he did it with professionalism, compassion, took the time to educate people about crime prevention and the laws that he was enforcing. When I experienced this, I knew what I wanted to do.

Q: Do you have any prior public safety experience? If so, where?

No.

Q: What was it about Sedona Police Department that you apply?

My family moved to Sedona in the ’70s, and I grew up in the Sedona area as a kid. I became a police officer in Sedona because I wanted to give back to the community that I grew up in.

Q: What do you enjoy most about serving the Sedona community?

The most enjoyable part of serving the community is the community itself. The community supports this department and the officers that serve the community. It always amazes me when people stop by to drop some­thing off to show their support or stop by to just say thanks. Talking with other officers from other communities, this is very rare. This is why I am proud to serve a great community.

Q: What are your daily or weekly responsibilities?

My current duties are to manage the patrol division of the department.

Q: What hobbies do you have away from work?

I enjoy playing video games and spending time with the family.

Q: What’s your all-time favorite movie?

“The Matrix.”