My City February 2023

MYCOMMUNITY

SIGNATURE PORTRAIT STUDIO

Policing. In 2014, she was assigned as Crime Prevention Officer working with numerous Flint residents, block clubs, crime watch, community groups and businesses. When the police volunteer program was redesigned, she became coordinator of the Blue Badge Volunteer Corps, the service centers and other special projects. InMay 2015, Meeks was promoted to the rank of sergeant and received her first assignment – supervising the Youth Ser vices Division overseeing all school liaison officers, miss ing persons’ cases and the PAL program. In 2016, Sgt. Meeks was transferred to the Patrol Division assigned as a Road Patrol Supervisor and in 2018, received her current assignment in the Detective Bureau investigating Child Abuse and Child Sex crimes. Married to Mark (Tony) Meeks, the couple has been blessed with two daughters and six grandchildren. Her hobbies include cooking, gardening, camping and fishing. Among her passions are her Christian faith, her family and traveling to Arkansas to be with her mom and dad.

SERGEANT TANYA MEEKS FLINT POLICE DEPARTMENT

Born in Smackover, ARTanya (Ross) Meeks was raised in a small town and brought up in a small Bap tist church where she sang in the choir. She graduated from Smackover High School in 1982. Aspiring to be a beautician, a secretary or a police officer, she attended a vocational school for secretarial classes. In 1984, Meeks came to Flint to visit relatives and decided to stay and become a Michigander. For 11 years, she was employed by UAW-GMLegal Services and then for a short time, the 68th District Court. Realizing that police work was her real passion, she applied for the Flint Police Academy, graduated in the Class of 11-98 and was assigned to Community Policing at Flint’s Northside Precinct. She then decided to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice at Mott Community College, graduating in 2003. Meeks became coordinator for Flint Area Crime Stoppers, as well as continuing her work in Community

8

MYCITYMAG.COM