Exceptionally Employable: Rocklin Police Canine Officer Adonia Hurley
“When God calls you to something, you do it,” Jessup alumna and Rocklin Police and Canine Handler, Adonia Hurley said. Called to law enforcement in high school, Hurley began the trajectory to fulfill her calling at Jessup. “Growing up in Vallejo and Fairfield, I had absolutely no positive relationships with law enforcement,” she said. “However, I had a connection with my high school resource officers and because of them, I was interested in pursuing the field to make it better.”
Attending a faith-based university was a priority and although Jessup didn’t offer a criminal justice program at the time, she enrolled as a psychology major. “Back then, I didn’t realize how helpful my degree would be in terms of police work,” she said. “Crime alone isn’t necessarily the problem in most communities. Instead, so many of our calls involve some mental health issue. Often these issues lead to substance abuse and later crime. There can be multiple problems that stem from mental health, so having a foundation in psychology has been essential.”
Hurley also credits Jessup with helping to grow her faith. Through spiritual formation groups, chapel, community service and a missions trip to Haiti, she became equipped to pursue a remarkable path in law enforcement. “Daily, I put my faith as a priority because of the kind of work I do. Having faith as my foundation is how I survive law enforcement. You have to remember that police officers often show up and see people’s deepest, darkest sins and that can be hard to process.”
At Jessup she also gained experience working as a student campus safety officer and with the help of Jessup Career and Life Planning services, landed an internship experience that provided the opportunity to participate in the Rocklin Police Department’s Police Services Aid (PSA) program. There, she gained a realistic preview of her anticipated career path.
The program exposed her to all aspects of police work, including patrol, dispatch, records, evidence, and more. It also walked her through writing police reports, a vital part of police work. In addition, she utilized mock police academy physical training tests that gave her a glimpse of the physical components required to be on the force. “For me, the PSA program was the perfect bridge,” she said. “It gave me the fundamentals to get to the academy prepared, which was really important.” When it came time to graduate, Hurley did so with a job offer from the Rocklin Police Department already in hand.
Introduced to canines in the police academy and being a dog lover at heart, Hurley knew she wanted to pursue working with dogs when she observed the handlers and the incredible capabilities of police dogs at work. Her natural affinity for dogs and keen sense of duty made her an ideal candidate for this specialized field.
She started working with police dogs by volunteering as a decoy, struggling somewhat to find a padded suit small enough to fit her frame. “I took bites, hid in trees, even sewers. Basically anywhere a dog needs to learn to look, I hid. It gave me the opportunity to learn a lot about training.” She also helped officers practice calling their dogs off and removing them while observing their ability to stop and control them. “I think people don’t understand how much training and hard work happens working with these dogs. There’s a very high level of scrutiny that goes into our canine program. Dogs don’t see color or gender. Instead they are trained to find something, so they see pursuit as a game they love and want to get good at it. I wish people knew the dogs simply want to come to work with their best friend.”
After volunteering for a year and a half, she met her best friend, Pimm (#303). “Now, my focus is on him. We’re in the car together for 12 1/2 hours at a time. I talk to him more than my human partners — he even knows my playlist! Having a canine is a big responsibility because they become part of your life. As you make split-second decisions, you learn to complement each other and become a strong team. I’ve never been closer to any other animal.”
Her unique partnership with Pimm has not only enhanced her effectiveness on the job but also solidified her reputation as a skilled and compassionate officer. Over the years, she invested countless hours in training and bonding with Pimm, ensuring they operate as a seamless unit. Her work extends beyond patrol duties; she actively engages in community outreach, educating the public about the vital contributions of canine officers and promoting trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
Hurley and her husband recently welcomed their daughter to the world last summer. “I juggle the roles of mom, wife, and officer now. Though the days can be long, I’m blessed with where God has got me.”
