Super Kid: Loren Ross, Monroe High School junior

MALTBY — Loren Ross, 16, of Maltby, is a junior at Monroe High School. She is part of the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Program.

Question: What classes are you taking?

Answer: I just got enrolled in the criminal justice class through Sno-Isle (TECH Skills Center). It’s half college credits and half high-school credits. I go to high school for 2½ hours a day and the rest at Everett (Community College.)

Q: How long have you been a sheriff’s explorer? What’s your rank or title?

A: Almost two years. I’m just an FTE. It’s called a field training explorer. I’ll probably apply for sergeant soon.

Q: Do you have any siblings?

A: I have a little brother. His name is Cole. He’s an eighth-grader.

Q: How did you become an explorer?

A: My mom was one when she was younger. I typed in “police 4-H” on the Internet because I do dog 4-H.

Q: Your mom is a dog training behaviorist. Did you grow up with a lot of pets?

A: Yeah, a lot of animals, basically anything you can think of, I’ve had.

Q: You’ve done 4-H?

A: I have done dog 4-H since fourth grade. I started getting really competitive my sixth grade year … I had a little Papillon, then he passed away and then I got a really good Irish water spaniel.

Q: Do you have an after-school job?

A: I do. I work at the Academy of Canine Behavior.

Q: Have you thought about college?

A: I’m going into the military, the Army. I want to be canine military police. That’s my dream job.

Q: Are you considering law enforcement as a career?

A: Of course, yes.

Q: Where do you see yourself policing after the military? A big city? A small town?

A: Staying in Washington and probably working for the county. I like the variety of people, and you’re not so enclosed.

Q: Besides 4-H, what do you do for fun?

A: I do FFA — Future Farmers of America. I show cows. This is my first year showing a cow. I’ve taken first place both times that I’ve shown. What else do I like to do? I do explorers. I do 4-H. I have a job.

Q: You’ve been through the explorers police academy three times?

A: The first time I went was my Basic, my basic academy. I found the biggest role model I could ever have in this life. His name is Andrew Thor. He’s a Lake Stevens police officer. My second academy I was in Advanced. My third academy I was in Advanced 2. My fourth year, I’ll be an EAA, which is like an assistant to all the police officers there.

Q: You like animals?

A: I had horses when I was little. I showed goats. I’d find stray dogs and pick up random animals.

Q: Do you have a favorite class this year or from last year?

A: My criminal justice class is my favorite. It’s very hands-on, very welcoming. I like that I can state my opinion and not have any backlash about it.

Q: What about a favorite TV show or movie?

A: A lot of the cops are going to get mad at me but my favorite TV show is ‘Cops.’ I like to point out the errors they make. My favorite movies would probably be “End of Watch” and “The Princess and The Frog.” I also like “Saving Private Ryan,” a lot of military movies and Disney. I’m still a girl, I gotta like my Disney.

Q: What made you want to join the military?

A: It’s been throughout my family. I like doing things a lot of other people don’t think of. I like being the oddball. I like being the first to do everything, and I would be the first girl in my family to be military. I also like being the leader and there’s a lot of leadership roles in the military.

Q: Anything you’re looking forward to this year?

A: I’m going to the East Coast again to work as a professional groomer and handler.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett will welcome new CEO in June

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Kelli Littlejohn, who was 11 when her older sister Melissa Lee was murdered, speaks to a group of investigators and deputies to thank them for bringing closure to her family after over 30 years on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘She can rest in peace’: Jury convicts Bothell man in 1993 killing

Even after police arrested Alan Dean in 2020, it was unclear if he would stand trial. He was convicted Thursday in the murder of Melissa Lee, 15.

Ariel Garcia, 4, was last seen Wednesday morning in an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Dr. (Photo provided by Everett Police)
Everett police searching for missing child, 4

Ariel Garcia was last seen Wednesday at an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Drive. The child was missing under “suspicious circumstances.”

The rezoned property, seen here from the Hillside Vista luxury development, is surrounded on two sides by modern neighborhoods Monday, March 25, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Despite petition, Lake Stevens OKs rezone for new 96-home development

The change faced resistance from some residents, who worried about the effects of more density in the neighborhood.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, left, introduces Xichitl Torres Small, center, Undersecretary for Rural Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture during a talk at Thomas Family Farms on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Under new federal program, Washingtonians can file taxes for free

At a press conference Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene called the Direct File program safe, easy and secure.

Former Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy Jeremie Zeller appears in court for sentencing on multiple counts of misdemeanor theft Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ex-sheriff’s deputy sentenced to 1 week of jail time for hardware theft

Jeremie Zeller, 47, stole merchandise from Home Depot in south Everett, where he worked overtime as a security guard.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.