LaVern Fields:  

After high school, I pursued my career desire to become a police officer. I became a Police Cadet with the KCKsPD in July, 1973. I became an officer there in May, 1976. My true desire was to become a State Trooper. I received that opportunity in June, 1978. As a Trooper, I was stationed in Wyandotte and Southern Leavenworth Counties. I loved it!!! I met my wife, Barbara, through the Highway Patrol, where she was an administrative assistant in the Olathe office. We were married in January, 1981. My son, Bryan was born in January, 1982. At least, we got the order of business correct even if it was a little quick.......... Raising a family and trying to establish a home on a single State employee income was tough. For those reasons, I left the Highway Patrol and went to work for United Parcel Service in October, 1983. UPS was a GREAT place to work but it wasn't all that friendly to the family. I was promoted very quickly, March, 1984, as a supervisor in Loss Prevention. I was responsible for the Kansas District except for Kansas City and Lenexa. I lived out of a suitcase for two years only to be home on weekends. Career-wise UPS was very good to me. I was promoted to a Manager and was being "fast tracked" for Staff Management. I actually turned down a promotion opportunity to help open up the Americas (Carribean Islands, South American, and territories in that area). It sounded like a super opportunity unitl I learned my family would be relocated to South Florida and I would be back in the states one week out of a month. That didn't go over well on the home front. I worked in the Corporate office in Greenwich, CT for six months, in the West Regon Office in Omaha for six months, went on a special assignment undercover in Baton Rouge for two months and came back to the Kansas District. After spending 14 months away from home, I needed to settle down. We had relocated to Olathe in the meantime. We really liked the area and weren't real eager to leave it. I was being prepped for another shot at promotion with UPS. Barbara and I had a real heart-to-heart where she confided that she did...Expand for more