Lt. Annesha Umbarger wasn’t sure what she wanted to do when she left the military.

But a “ride along” with a police unit pointed her toward a career in law enforcement.

“Being a police officer was not always on my radar,” Umbarger said. “All it took was that one day, and I knew at that moment, this is what I wanted to do. I loved the thought of helping people.”

Since then, Umbarger has proved to be a valuable member of the Springfield Police Department. Now a 16-year veteran of the force, Umbarger was promoted to Lieutenant in Nov. 2021, moving from patrol watch commander to supervising criminal investigations.

“As a patrol watch commander, it was my responsibility to oversee the allocation of our resources and deployment of officers in response to incoming calls for service and crime trends,” Umbarger explained. “It was also my responsibility to command critical incidents and major crime scenes.”

Now, a typical day for Umbarger ranges from briefings to monitoring calls for service to, at times, media interviews.

“After a briefing I speak to my sergeants on each side of town to see how their squads are doing and how staffing is looking for the shift,” Umbarger said. “That way I know what resources I have available for when a critical incident occurs.”

“If a call for service comes in that would involve a major crime or a lot of officers, I respond to the scene to manage resources and assign duties,” Umbarger added. “Sometimes, this involves having to give interviews with the media on camera.”

Criminal justice program excellent preparation

Once Umbarger decided she wanted to become a police officer, she turned to MSU’s criminal justice program for her education, taking advantage of the department’s accelerated master’s program.

Umbarger earned her bachelor’s in criminology from MSU, with a minor in psychology, in 2014. She then graduated with a master’s in criminology and a graduate certificate in homeland security and defense in 2016.

“I would have to say my favorite class was ‘Causes of Delinquency and Crime’” Umbarger said. “I enjoyed it because I like to understand the root causes of problems as it helps to develop better and more effective solutions.”

Senior instructor Ivy Yarkow-Brown encouraged Umbarger to take advantage of educational and professional opportunities beyond the classroom.

“Ivy encouraged me to be more involved with the program [by] participating in essay contests and joining Alpha Phi Sigma, the Criminal Justice Honor Society,” Umbarger said.

Umbarger credits her success as a professional in part to her educational experience at MSU.

“It not only gave me the education and tools to promote, but more importantly it helped me analyze and interpret the bigger picture of the criminal justice system,” Umbarger said. “The education I gained at MSU helps me make the Springfield Police Department and our community a better place every day. I am more professional, patient and efficient at my job because of it.”

Staying connected to inspire the future

In addition, Umbarger has been encouraged, through the efforts of department head Dr. Brett Garland, to stay connected with the criminal justice department as a professional alumna.

Umbarger is now a per course instructor, teaching the Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System (CRM 210) class.

Teaching, Umbarger said, allows her to “inspire the future work force of the criminal justice system.”

Umbarger has advice for her students and others exploring the criminal justice system as a career.

“Getting your degree is extremely important for your career,” Umbarger said. “It sets you apart from others for promotions, and it gives you the tools to be more effective in meeting your organization’s goals.”

A profession that instills great pride

Umbarger has no problem identifying what has been so rewarding about her career as a police officer. She recalled in particular her time working in the Child Crimes Investigations Unit.

“Being able to save a child and remove them from a terrible environment and abuse was the most fulfilling accomplishments for me,” Umbarger said.

Umbarger is proud to note that her experience as a female officer in the Springfield force has been positive.

“I haven’t experienced any different treatment than a male officer,” Umbarger said. “If anything, each person brings a unique set of tools to the table based on their strengths and life experiences they have had.”

“I would definitely encourage more women to enter the law enforcement field,” she added. “It is extremely rewarding and bringing diversity into the profession only benefits agencies and communities.”

Challenges highlight “the tough days”

The challenges, Umbarger noted, bring with them an awareness of the limitations of her profession.

“The greatest challenges would have to be understanding that sometimes I can’t help people,” Umbarger explained. “There are times where you know something is happening to a victim (whether domestic abuse or child abuse) but there is not enough evidence for probable cause or the victim does not want to cooperate at that moment.”

“Some people come into this profession with desires to change the world and have an impact. There are days where you do, and there are days where you don’t. Those are the tough days.”

Another challenge is the disconnect between what the general public understands about law enforcement and the reality of the profession.

“Police work is not easy,” Umbarger said. “It is physically demanding in that you have to most times work overnights, on holidays and weekends, causing you to miss out on time and events with your family.”

“Officers sacrifice a lot for their profession and joined this profession to help and have a positive impact,” she added.

To counter this more sobering aspect of her career, Umbarger spends time with her family, watching her daughter play sports, and even squeezing in a game of pickleball.

Promoting herself, the force and the profession

Umbarger has tied her future goals to both her own personal professional growth and to making a good workplace environment even better.

“My professional goals include continuing to promote,” Umbarger stated. “I hope to continue making the Springfield Police Department a great place to work and supporting officers so they enjoy their job and do the best they can for our community.”

“If they have the right tools to do their job and are taken care of, they will do a better job for the people they serve.”

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Photos by Missouri State University.