MRS . COMMUNITY
Kelley retires after 35 years in law enforcement
By Michael Kormos Explore Corsicana Courtesy photos
After working a total of 35 years as a police telecommunicator , 21 with DART and the rest in Navarro County , Barbara Kelley recently retired . But the Corsicana ISD school board member and community volunteer said she has no intention of sitting on the sidelines .
Kelley ’ s family moved from California to Texas in 1981 and she attended Corsicana High School , graduating in 1984 . She then enrolled in Navarro College and had the first of her three sons . She has been married to her husband Charles for almost 23 years .
A LEGACY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
She said she was working at the Friendly Store on South Seventh Street when a strong-arm robbery sparked her interest in law enforcement .
“ A man came in and caught me off guard and said ‘ give me the money ,’” she said . “ After that I signed up at Navarro College for reserve officer classes and the Corsicana Police Department picked me up from there . I was on patrol so many hours a week until a position came up in dispatch so I started that position around 1991 .”
Kelley said at the time there were a couple of women officers and she was made to feel welcome .
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