By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
A Purple Heart recipient has officially made his home among Bucyrus’ boys in blue.
James Mata, formerly of Fort Worth, Texas, was sworn in as Bucyrus Police Department’s newest officer Wednesday morning. He was joined by his fiancée, Maria Aguilar, and the event was recorded for his family back in Fort Worth.
“It is a huge day for the police department, the entire city, the entire county,” Police Chief Dave Koepke said to the crowd assembled in Bucyrus City Hall. “We’re putting the police department – the forces – back together and we’re halfway there. Thanks to the voters for passing the safety forces levy to keep the fire department and the police department fully staffed and ready to respond to emergencies, as we haven’t been for so long.”
“We’re finally catching up,” Koepke added.
With 19 officers now sporting the Bucyrus Police Department badge and an additional staff of six civilians, Koepke said the department is now at the staffing levels that it was at in 2009, though that is still below what is considered a fully-staffed police department for a town the size of Bucyrus.
“We’re closing in to a goal of a fully-staffed police office,” Koepke said. “We have a young healthy department.”
Mata is the second officer hired on to the department using money from the safety forces levy. Koepke added that they plan on hiring three additional officers, which will put the department above the staffing levels prior to the economic downturn.
One of the reasons Mata was drawn to Bucyrus was his friendship with fellow officer David Rowland, who joined the Bucyrus Police Department in August of 2013.
“We actually met right after basic training,” Mata explained. “We both deployed to Iraq together for our first tour. I got hurt and injured.”
While Mata was sent home to recover, Rowland finished out his tour. Both men returned for a second tour and served together later. Mata and Rowland each served two tours in Iraq.
“We were good friends then,” Mata said. “Once we both got out of the army, we had one connecting friend and we both followed him here. I actually came here first and then Dave followed us and we really hit it off great.
“We had a passion for law enforcement and we followed that. And we’re here; we made it.”
Despite Mata and his fiancée both being from Fort Worth, he said they were attracted to the small-town feel of Bucyrus.
“We’re from a big city and we’re not used to people being so friendly,” Mata said with a smile. “It definitely is a different environment for sure but I love it to death. We definitely love all the festivals.”
Mata said they were able to experience the Bratwurst Festival for a second time this year. He and Aguilar had also visited Rowland and his family last year during the Bratwurst Festival.
“I like what I saw, obviously, and started applying here,” Mata said.
Mata graduated from Paschal High School in 2006. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he attained the rank of sergeant. Mata served with distinct in two tours in Iraq and was awarded the Purple Heart after being wounded on his first tour.
After his stint in the Army, Mata attended Hocking College. He graduated from the police academy in June.
“We’re very thankful to have James join the police department in Bucyrus and for all your service for the United States Army,” Koepke said.
Mata credited his family, commander, and instructor for helping him get where he is today. A video of his comments can be found below.
“It feels like it took forever to get here, to get where I am. I couldn’t have done it without the love and support of my family back home in Texas,” Mata said. “Obviously I have some very good friends here in Bucyrus that I consider family and that I look forward to working with. And obviously my fiancée Maria, who was there with me every step of the way and went through all the good and the bad with me.”
“I just want to do my best to keep the streets of Bucyrus safe and I’m excited to be working here,” Mata added.