$1.50 Aug. 4, 2023 | Vol. 2 Iss. 31
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Alexis Benson has been with the Kaysville Police Department for six years. Courtesy photo
KPD POP OFFICER IS LIVING HER DREAM FALL SPORTS KICK OFF
By Becky Ginos | becky.g@davisjournal.com
Viewmont’s Halle Carter (13) and Millie Egnew (14) put a stop on Davis’Simone Packer (2). The Darts were able to work past the defense winning the Season Opener 4 – 0 over the Vikings. See previews inside on page 13. Photo by Roger V. Tuttle
PROTECTIVE FACTORS LESSEN THE CHANCE KIDS WILL VAPE By Becky Ginos | becky.g@davisjournal.com
V
aping seems to be the new trend among kids. To them it’s harmless and besides, everyone else is doing it. However, what they think is fun could lead to long term addiction and other health consequences. “Early exposure can affect their mental health, cognitive ability and behavior,” said Trevor Warner, Communications Manager for the Davis County Health Department (DCHD). “There are resources like My Life My Quit for youth and young adults and their parents or guardians to support youth in their journey to stop or not start.” Findings from the 2021 Student Health and Risk Prevention (SHARP) Statewide Survey show that Davis County is
actually doing alright compared to the rest of the state, he said. “Only 5.6% of students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12 said they had used e-cigarettes or vaped in the last 30 days. That’s a lower average overall than the State of Utah and the U.S. We’re doing pretty well.” Warner attributes some of that to more education and messaging. “There’s better education than 10 years ago,” he said. “Messages have to be more sensational, that’s how this generation sees things so it has to pack a punch.” They’ve been seeing these messages since they were two feet tall, said Warner. “It’s finally
KAYSVILLE—From the time she walked into the 7-Eleven where her sister worked and talked to the cops there, Kaysville Problem Oriented Policing (POP) Officer Alexis Benson has wanted to be a police officer. Benson has been with the department for six years. “That was my first interaction,” she said. “I thought that was the coolest thing ever. In the sixth grade Tom Smart was the DARE Officer at my elementary school. He was so cool I really looked up to him so much. In that moment of my life I knew I wanted to be a police officer.” Benson said she assumed she wouldn’t meet the requirements to become a police officer. “I thought I wasn’t tall enough or strong enough or big enough. Then I went to the Citizens Police Academy and one of the instructors said ‘I can see it in you. This could be a great career for you.’ I realized maybe I could be an officer.” She went to the police academy and also worked full time. “I would do ride alongs and I fell in love with Kaysville and the people,” said Benson. “Chief (Sol) Oberg was so supportive of me. I knew there was no other place I wanted to be than here.” Benson said she started in Layton and was there for a year and then came over to Kaysville. “I was a little bit intimidated but there were three other females so I realized it wasn’t so crazy that I wanted to be a cop. I had purple handcuffs to show the kids and I’d visit lemonade stands and people would come up and strike up a conversation with me. I’d tell the children they could be anything they wanted to be and showed them that women can do this job and we’re as helpful in this career as men are.” There are some hard calls, she said. “When I go home I’m no longer a police officer. You have to leave it at the door. There are things your family may not want to hear. I figure to be a cop you can’t let the stress of the job affect your personal life.” In certain situations like sexual assault cases, Benson said they might bring in a female officer. “A victim may not be comContinued page 7
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