Anne Marie Buck

Position: Police services liaison

Duties:

• Works with school counselors to teach students about preventing substance abuse, bullying and other problems.
• Partners with Ubah Medical Academy and Main Street School of Performing Arts to offer youth academies that teach students about police, state laws and safe driving.
• Works with Community Education, the library and other groups on various other activities for youth.
• Coordinates National Night Out and neighborhood watch programs.
• Teaches how to manage property.
• Checks that car seats are installed properly.

Time in Hopkins: Three years

Other experience: 19 years of experience working with law enforcement, including working as a …

• Reserve officer in Elk River
• Community service officer in Maple Grove
• Crime-prevention specialist in Maple Grove

Education: Two-year liberal arts degree from Mankato State University, now Minnesota State University, Mankato; bachelor's from Metropolitan State University

Hometown: Eden Prairie

Favorite part of her job: The day-to-day interaction with residents. While much of law enforcement involves working with people when they are upset and unhappy, Buck said her job centers around working with people who truly care about their community.

Hardest part of her job: Dealing with nuisance properties. Ninety to 95 percent of properties are safe, quiet and peaceful, but a handful of residents cause problems. "They come to Hopkins, and they think it's partysville and it's not." It can be challenging and frustrating to deal with those properties, she said.

Biggest misperception about her job: "I think a lot of people see the police as the enforcers. … But we're also out there to protect and serve, and we really want to partner with the community."

Favorite things to do when not working: "Playing in the snow, lately, has been the most fun." Buck's family snowboards, sleds and jumps into the snow from their trampoline. They also have a 1-year-old golden retriever named "Rusty."

Family: Husband Peter plus a 7-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter.