Behind the Badge
Cindy Ballou has had three jobs her entire life. She worked at the old Broadway department store and at a movie theater.
And, in a few weeks, she will retire from the La Habra Police department after more than 34 years of service – most recently, as a Community Service Officer.
She works as a court liaison at the North County Court in Fullerton.
Cindy Ballou, retiring court liaison for the La Habra Police Department, has been with the police department for nearly 35 years.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
“I’m the go-between for the police department and the court,” she said, noting her connections with judges, district attorney officials and all the clerical staff. “Over here, I get to see the end result. I get to hear about the jury trials and that defendants are pleading guilty. I really feel like our job is critical. And sometimes it goes unnoticed.”
Because she is based at the courthouse, Ballou rarely spends time at the La Habra Police Department, where she was hired in February of 1980, as a part-time police cadet.
Her plan, at first, was to get her bachelor’s degree and become a probation officer.
“When I saw kids get arrested time, after time, after time, I really didn’t think I could be a probation officer,” she said.
So, when a records clerk job opened up, she applied.
“I wasn’t the police officer type to be out on the street,” she said.
She eventually became a records supervisor and was the first traffic clerk at the station.
Ballou prides herself on her customer service skills, saying she always tries to go above and beyond to research things for people. In fact, she was just recognized, by her peers, as the La Habra Police Association’s “Civilian Employee of the Year” for 2014.
While she is going to miss her colleagues, she is a lifelong Dodger and baseball fan who, this May, is going to take a baseball tour with her husband and visit five different stadiums and the Baseball Hall of Fame.
She also looks forward to spending time with her grandchildren and going to lunch with friends.
“I could never be a stay at home mom,” she said. “But I’m going to do that as a grandma.”
Cindy Ballou, retiring court liaison for the La Habra Police Department, has been with the police department for nearly 35 years.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
