Where Are They Now -- Sam Thoele

Instead of being a member of a baseball team, the Dieterich High School graduate is now a member of the Springdale, Arkansas Police Department.

"I started playing baseball at a very young age, probably around five, and I fell in love with the game," said Thoele. "At Dieterich High School I played baseball and basketball. I almost didn't play basketball my senior year because I knew I wanted to continue my baseball career. I ended up playing both sports my senior year and I'm glad I did."

Thoele graduated in 2011 and went on to continue his baseball career at Parkland College as a pitcher.

"I missed my freshman year at Parkland due to a shoulder injury," said Thoele. "My shoulder had given me issues my last year or two of high school. I had a decent year at Parkland my senior year and ended up being recruited by several schools. I don't know what happened with several of these schools as they did not respond to me after I returned their voicemails, but I ended up taking visits to Morehead State and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

"I committed to UALR and went there until 2015 when I was drafted by the Colorado Rockes in the 14th round. I had more downs than ups in my professional career, although an emergency appendectomy put a screeching halt on a very good year for me. I was eventually released by the Rockies in January 2018, after a bad year and another shoulder injury; which I expected.

I attempted to play independent ball two years in a row and failed both times; one because I didn't prepare enough, and the second year my arm just gave out on me.

"After I made another Indy ball team and left because I didn't have any life left in my shoudler, I moved to Springdale, Arkansas to be with my girlfriend, whom I had been dating for several years long distance."

Thoele became a police officer and after returning to Arkansas applied with the Springfield Police Department.

"After applying at Springdale, a long hiring process occurred," said Thoele. "I ended up getting hired at Springdale and I now serve the community as a Springdale Police Officer. It has been a very tough time to become a police officer since I got hired. An officer was brutally assassinated in his patrol unit a couple days before I reported for my initial training.

"Now riots are breaking out all over the country because of a bad officer. It is hard being a police officer. Many people want to kill me because of the profession I chose, all bcause of some bad officers who abused their power. Don't get me wrong, there are bad officers out there, but the vast majority of officers are good at their jobs and want to help people.

"I did not become a police officer because I want to carry a gun and beat people up. I became a police officer because I like to be a part of a team and I want to go home at the end of my shift knowing that helped someone out. I don't want to sit behind a desk all day like many people do. The majority of people don't know anything about police work, so they buy into what the mainstream media wants them to believe; that cops are just looking for reasons to shoot people, especially minorities.

"This is absolutely not the case. Every day that I go on duty, I put my body armor on and I pray to God that I don't need it. Every day I go on duty, I holster rmy pistol and pray to God that I don't need it.

"Ninety-nine person of police officers don't care what race you are, they just want to help people solve problems. Me personally, I will treat you nice and with respect, until you don't allow me to do so. I don't care if you're black, white, brown, green pink, yellow or rainbow; I am there to help you.

"Police officers swore an oath to serve and protect including me. Take this into consideration; police officers will run towards the sound of gunfire, to protect human life, no matter your race. If you believe that we want to help you and you need our services, give us a call. However, if you believe that police officers are corrupt and just want to shoot people, go ahead and take care of it yourself."

Thoele lives with Allison and her dog Murphy.

"I look forward to continuing my service with the citizens of Springdale."