BHS grad promoted to Corporal, Investigator at Van Police Department
By Nathan Straus News Reporter

Ceresa Ballard

One foot in a police car was all it took for Ceresa Ballard to realize law enforcement was her calling.

"For me it was all about getting my foot into the squad car," Ballard said. "After that it got in my blood and I couldn't get it out."

Ceresa works at the Van Police Department, a station of five other officers and one public safety officer. Ballard was promoted to Corporal and Investigator for the department only a matter of weeks ago.

Being in her mid 20s, Ballard is the youngest member of the Van Police Department.

"I don't know of anyone in the area as young as I am who have been given jobs like Corporal or Investigator," Ballard said.

Her job, Ceresa said, is a combination of on-the-street work on patrol and office work. As an Investigator she serves as something of a last line of defense for cases other officers aren't able to finish. The Corporal title entails an additional administrative role performing tasks such as handing out press releases.

"I'm having a lot of fun right now. In October, if we get another officer, I will be in the office all the time," Ballard said.

Her current position is one that has required patient study and focus, two things that come naturally to the young Corporal.

Ever the determined student, Ballard graduated Brownsboro High School at 16.

"I had some really close friends in Brownsboro at school," Ballard said. "I had a lot of fun, and my grades were good."

Soon after graduation she took a ride with Henderson County Deputy Wick Gabbard and her course was set.

"Riding with Wick," Ballard began, "I realized I wanted to help people in some way."

The young Investigator then began looking for a way to go to the Police Academy.

Her parents, Danny and Cindy Ballard, were opposed to the idea of their only child becoming a police officer at first, but Ceresa said they soon softened to the idea.

Pat Jordan, Van Zandt's Precinct Four Constable, sponsored Ceresa's entry into the academy, and Brownsboro's own police chief Ron Shields was her instructor.

Shields has nothing but praise for his former pupil.

"She's a fine young lady who academically and physically was beyond the standards I set for the class," Shields said.

Shields also said he is proud to call Ceresa a personal friend.

"She has a devotion to law enforcement," Shields added.

The Ceresa Ballard determination showed strong and she graduated from the nighttime academy within five months.

Ceresa still attends The University of Texas in Tyler where she works to finish her bachelor's degree in criminal justice, with a minor in psychology, by December of 2008.

Ballard said once she receives her degree her goal is to the US Marshals.

"I want to be on the side of serving warrants. I want to take the big crime off the street," she said.