VIP of the Week: Detective Tim Tougas
Posted on 18. Sep, 2010 by Rose M Garland in Popular Stories, VIP of the Week
There is a stereotype of detectives out there, and it is one of the few stereotypes that isn’t based on gender. Detectives are supposed to be surly, sometimes moody, detached, tough, and smart. And yet, no matter how bad tempered they may be, we love them anyway – Detectives are just that cool.
Maybe it was my absolute love of Nancy Drew Mysteries as a kid, or my recent indepth interviews with Pat Brown, Criminal Profiler, but I hold the detective job in pretty high esteem. And this week’s VIP of the week, Detective Tim Tougas is a great example that stereotypes are often not true.
Detective Tougas is actually both really funny and very serious. He grew up in Hibbing, and had a drive to join law enforcement as early as his late teenage years. 31 years later he is working with the Lakes Area Police Department where he has been for the past 5 years since the merger, and worked in Taylor Falls before then. He enjoys riding motorcycles, and is a dedicated volunteer for the National Ski Patrol.
After meeting Detective Tim Tougas, I thought about the differences between an investigative reporter, like my job sometimes is, and that of a detective. In our situations, Reporters really WANT to get answers, while I think detectives NEED to get answers. Detective Tougas is very passionate about his field, which is nice to see.
When I asked him what interested him in Law Enforcement, he told of a cousin his age who he was close with as a young man. He talked about her honor roll activities, and her vivaciousness. Her passing of a drug overdose was a huge shock to him, and is what kickstarted his career in law enforcement. He wanted to help catch the people who started her on this road, and help others not to follow it in the first place.
When asked what advice he would give to a young person who might want to follow in his footsteps into being a detective for the field of law enforcement, he said, “If you think it’s not a big deal to go to a kegger while you’re under-aged, or even to get a speeding ticket – think again. The competition is fierce, and anything could negatively affect your chances of a law enforcement career.
If you’re looking to do something other than law enforcement, remember – so many jobs require background checks. Whether you’re hoping to get a state job, any sort of job at all with the government, city’s etc, background checks these days are thorough. And even if you think something’s been expunged from your record, it can still be found.”
And if you’re going to believe anyone, believe Detective Tougas!
Detective Tougas will be a part of the Police Unity Ride coming up in a few weeks, and the bicycling parks & ride for the National Ski Patrol which is upcoming as well. And don’t believe everything you read or watch on TV, Detectives may not be the stereotypes they’re painted on tv – but they’re still pretty darn cool.
Lenore Bleifuss
03. Oct, 2010
I liked your article about DetectiveTougas. Yes..in this modern day one has to know that what they say and do will somehow touch other lives, either positive or negative, and it will always be remembered by people or on ones background check. So important to have the good guys really there for society.