For the past 19 years, Sgt. Tony Kropf has been serving the people of Mapleton, and Serve Daily recently met up with him to learn more about life on the force.
Sgt. Kropf grew up in Spanish Fork and Mapleton, and said that he loves the community and has always had a need to protect people and those in his community. He said he also likes having the opportunity to practice empathy – even attempting to “be in the other guy’s shoes.”
“I’ve always had sort of a protective gift, and I was molded for the job,” he said.
Besides working with humans, he has also interacted with deer, elk, moose, bear, wild turkeys, and other creatures from the animal kingdom. He said that he has often been called upon to help wrangle wildlife in Mapleton to bring them back to their natural environments away from the city.
Sgt. Kropf said that out of all the shifts he’s worked, he enjoys the swing shift because it gives him the opportunity to offer service as well as to be a bit more “dynamic” in a variety of responsibilities. He said that over the years, he has been exposed to several different things that he said fall in the “you can’t make this stuff up” category.
According to Kropf, once while on an overnight solo shift, his Dodge Charger patrol car became high-centered in a gathered ridge of plowed snow. With no one available for assistance, he had to free the stuck cruiser using his own determination.
When asked which unsolved crime or criminal mystery he’d like to see resolved, Sgt. Kropf said he would like to know the whereabouts of both Kiplyn Davis (missing from Spanish Fork) and also the location of Susan Powell (missing from West Valley City).
Sgt. Kropf said that “exciting” stories aside, one of the things he enjoys is spending time at local elementary schools.
When asked if he would encourage others to consider a life in police work, he said he definitely would, adding that the job does come with a number of sacrifices such as missing children’s ball games.
Sgt.Kropf said that Mapleton is a great community to work with and serve, and he sees himself in law enforcement for a little while longer.
Sgt. Kropf and Mapleton City seem to be a great fit for one another, and the citizens of Mapleton can be sure that he is nearby to protect and to serve them on a daily basis. On behalf of Serve Daily, we thank Sgt. Kropf for his service, and wish him the best in the years ahead.
