Travis Bays, officer with the Milford Police Department, poses next to Town Marshal Derek Kreider’s rifle rack. Photo by Scott Morales.

By SCOTT MORALES
Staff Writer

MILFORD — Sometimes, you just know what you want to do, even as a kid. For Travis Bays, he knew he wanted to be a police officer.

After a four-year tour with the Marine Corps, Bays worked briefly with the Bourbon Police Department, before leaving and driving a truck. But after a short time, he felt the calling to go back into his first, best destiny: being a police officer.

Bays started as a reserve officer with Milford Police, before going full time in March 2020. He looks at his career thus far and although some people look to work in the fast-paced and high profile cases in larger cities, Bays likes the slower pace of a smaller department. He prefers working alone and the smaller departments are more close knit and intimate.

So when it comes to contact with your superior, if there is an issue, he can go directly to Town Marshal Derek Kreider’s office and address it, instead of having to send things up a chain of command to get the problem dealt with.

On some of the night shifts he works, he is the only officer who patrols the town. Most of the investigations are cut and dried, although some things like accidents mostly occur outside the city limits and are handled by the county. Still there are some nights that keep him running the entire 12 hour shift. Those shifts help him to appreciate the down times.

Law enforcement is a tough career on anyone, because it changes you from being just a civilian to having a “cop” mind-set. Asked if he would encourage others to go into law enforcement, Bays said, “I only encourage the right people. It is definitely not for everybody. Your entire life changes. It just isn’t a ‘clock-in, clock-out’ profession.”

Bays believes people have to really be “called” to be a law enforcement officer and he takes his calling seriously.

“The toughest part of the job is knowing that you can’t make everyone happy and be fair at the same time. Sometimes you just have to take action.”

Bays looks at the current climate of policing today and sees the media presents a lot of negative portrayals of police officers. But, Bays said he is fortunate to live and work in the Milford area because the people are still good and respect law enforcement officers.

“It’s not just Milford, but it seems to be this part of Indiana. People still are glad to see you when you show up.”

Bays hopes to stay in a full 20 year career, but he doesn’t make long term goals. He sees himself as a training officer, but is aware how things can change with each new administration.

Bays family is supportive of his career, as well as his girlfriend, who is also a police officer.

Plus, they get to wear very cool cowboy hats.