Name: Nathan Dorfman
Title: Sergeant
Years with SPD: 6½
Q: What inspired you to become a police officer?
Growing up in Sedona I remembered my School Resource Officers being giants to me and wanted to be just like them, like many little kids do. As I grew up I joined the Sedona Police Explorer program when it first started. The mentorship provided and seeing the way they made the city a safe place inspired me to want to return that level of care and protection. I grew up and still believe it is one of the noblest professions in the world.
Q: Do you have any prior public safety experience? If so, where?
I was a military police officer in the U.S. Air Force for six years, and I worked with Cottonwood Police Department for two years.
Q: What was it about Sedona Police Department that made you apply?
I grew up here and I wanted to get out of the military and give back to the community that I was raised in. I knew after serving four tours in Iraq I wanted to serve here. Globally serving was a tremendous honor but I also knew somebody has to do it here as well, and I wanted to give back and serve the community that raised me.
Q: What do you enjoy most about serving the Sedona community?
I enjoy all the different walks of life that our team interacts with on a daily basis. I have heard some of the most amazing and unique life stories here. I also enjoy the kids. Playing basketball or throwing a football with kids in the same neighborhood I grew up in is special.
Q: What are your daily or weekly responsibilities?
I am responsible for supervising a patrol shift containing three officers. I am also responsible for overseeing our defensive tactics program, active attacker program, managing our members on the regional SWAT team, de-escalation program, as well as our vehicle fleet. Weekly tasks are often juggled as our job is ever evolving.
Q: What hobbies do you have away from work?
I really enjoy hunting and outdoor activities on the water. My passion is wood working, creating unique furniture and pieces of art. I am also very much into the sport of ax throwing.
Q: What’s your all-time favorite movie?
Hands down it has to be “Road House.” My kid even has a Patrick Swayze Fat Head.
