By Bruce Rolfe
A full time employee of the Village of Climax Department of Public Works is looking forward to starting a career in another field he has had aspirations of getting into for some time.
Forrest Cope, who began working full time for the Village of Climax in April, 2023, has had ambitions of working in law enforcement for quite some time.
After learning the Kalamazoo County Sheriff Department had some open positions, he applied. He was accepted and will be sponsored to go through Kellogg Community College’s Police Academy. After completing the Police Academy, Cope will be a deputy with the Kalamazoo County Sheriff Department.
A graduate of Battle Creek Lakeview High School, Cope attended Kellogg Community College where he completed his prerequisite work. He went on to earn his Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and minor in Criminal Justice at Grand Valley State University.
However after obtaining his degree, he didn’t feel the timing was right yet to start his journey in law enforcement.
Cope worked for a non-emergency medical transportation company in Grand Rapids for three years before he secured the full time DPW position.
“Full circle, I realized they had some open positions and threw my name in and they (the Kalamazoo County Sheriff Department) hired me,” said Cope, about his ambitions to get into law enforcement.
His last day working for the Village in the DPW will be July 24.
Cope and his wife Sydney (Macomber), a Climax-Scotts High School graduate who is the Village Council treasurer, recently purchased a home in the Village of Climax.
“I’ve really enjoyed this job and meeting everybody and living out here. It (the DPW position) introduced me to a lot of really good people I’ll always stay in contact with. This is our home now,” said Cope.
The DPW employee said he enjoyed his job, but especially liked to interact with village residents.
He also enjoyed working outdoors in the spring, summer and fall, and even enjoyed plowing snow in the winter.
“I learned a lot of skills that will help me the rest of my adult life,” said Cope, who became water certified as part of a job requirement as a full time Village of Climax DPW employee.
Five candidates were interviewed last week and the Climax Village Council was expected to consider a recommendation for a new full time Department of Public Works employee at the July 15 Village Council meeting.
“It was a good experience. It was eye opening to see how municipalities all run. The Department of Public Works, how that works in a smaller community like this. It was good to experience behind the scenes, working with all of that. I have a much bigger appreciation for individuals that do this type of work now after doing it. It’s a rewarding job,” adds Cope, who said he will miss working with the co-workers he has worked with the most.
A full time employee of the Village of Climax Department of Public Works is looking forward to starting a career in another field he has had aspirations of getting into for some time.
Forrest Cope, who began working full time for the Village of Climax in April, 2023, has had ambitions of working in law enforcement for quite some time.
After learning the Kalamazoo County Sheriff Department had some open positions, he applied. He was accepted and will be sponsored to go through Kellogg Community College’s Police Academy. After completing the Police Academy, Cope will be a deputy with the Kalamazoo County Sheriff Department.
A graduate of Battle Creek Lakeview High School, Cope attended Kellogg Community College where he completed his prerequisite work. He went on to earn his Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and minor in Criminal Justice at Grand Valley State University.
However after obtaining his degree, he didn’t feel the timing was right yet to start his journey in law enforcement.
Cope worked for a non-emergency medical transportation company in Grand Rapids for three years before he secured the full time DPW position.
“Full circle, I realized they had some open positions and threw my name in and they (the Kalamazoo County Sheriff Department) hired me,” said Cope, about his ambitions to get into law enforcement.
His last day working for the Village in the DPW will be July 24.
Cope and his wife Sydney (Macomber), a Climax-Scotts High School graduate who is the Village Council treasurer, recently purchased a home in the Village of Climax.
“I’ve really enjoyed this job and meeting everybody and living out here. It (the DPW position) introduced me to a lot of really good people I’ll always stay in contact with. This is our home now,” said Cope.
The DPW employee said he enjoyed his job, but especially liked to interact with village residents.
He also enjoyed working outdoors in the spring, summer and fall, and even enjoyed plowing snow in the winter.
“I learned a lot of skills that will help me the rest of my adult life,” said Cope, who became water certified as part of a job requirement as a full time Village of Climax DPW employee.
Five candidates were interviewed last week and the Climax Village Council was expected to consider a recommendation for a new full time Department of Public Works employee at the July 15 Village Council meeting.
“It was a good experience. It was eye opening to see how municipalities all run. The Department of Public Works, how that works in a smaller community like this. It was good to experience behind the scenes, working with all of that. I have a much bigger appreciation for individuals that do this type of work now after doing it. It’s a rewarding job,” adds Cope, who said he will miss working with the co-workers he has worked with the most.
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
https://www.legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
