Recent MSU grad begins first law enforcement job in Albert Lea

Growing up in western Minnesota, Megan Evers became aware of her interest in working in law enforcement during high school while taking classes and participating in a ride-along with an officer.

These days, Evers is turning her interest into reality as she begins her career as an Albert Lea police officer.

Evers, 22, started in her position Nov. 13. She is undergoing training, learning aspects of the job.

To Evers, her position provides a variety of work, something she prefers over a typical desk job.

“Every day’s a new day,” she said. “Coming into work, you never know where your day will take you, where it’s going to end up — getting out, talking to people, learning different things from people in the community.”

“I don’t know that I could sit in an office and do the same thing or sit and stare at a computer screen all day.”

A Minneota native, Evers graduated in May from Minnesota State University-Mankato, where she worked as a campus security officer.

Evers has not moved to Albert Lea yet but plans to.

“I really enjoy the area,” she said.

Evers said she enjoys helping people and understands that some people who encounter law enforcement have had bad experiences with officers.

“There’s times where, situations where people have had bad experiences in the past, and so as officers, we have to set out to show them that this is a new experience,” she said.

Evers said she notices Albert Lea police work well with the community they serve.

“They go out in the community, they talk to people, they try and show them that the officers here, we’re here to help them, to listen to them, see what they need and see how we can achieve that together,” she said. “Because without the help of the community, we cannot function as a police department effectively.”

Albert Lea police Officer Jacob Stockwell has trained Evers for two weeks and said he noticed qualities she has that will make her a good officer.

“She’s very good at dealing with the public,” Stockwell said. “She’s excellent at doing any task that we ask her to. She molds very well with our department.

“Overall, she’s a great officer that’s, I think, going to be a great fit for our department.”