Travis Wold, an Anoka County Sheriff deputy and parishioner of St. Patrick in Oak Grove, said sometimes, he sees people at the lowest point in their lives. Wold tries to rely on his faith in remembering to be a person who will help them.
“I feel like I can be a resource while I’m working and doing my job, and when people are at their bottom, I hope to help bring them back up,” Wold told “Practicing Catholic” producer Rachael McCallum in a program set to air at 9 p.m. March 14 on Relevant Radio 1330.
Wold explained that when he started his career, he learned more and more while on the job, but he also used what he was experiencing in life to help make him a better police officer.
“When I go to calls, I think, ‘How would I like somebody to talk to my family, my wife, my kids, my parents? And how would I like them to be treated?” Wold said. “God tells us to forgive people and to keep growing, taking the word of God and growing from it and learning. … Obviously, we are evolving and trying to do better and come closer to God every day. That’s how I approach it as well.”
Wold said that falling away from faith, whatever denomination, was never the answer for him.
“There’s people in all churches that want to help,” Wold said. “People want to be there for each other and all you have to do is ask. I try to be that bridge and try to work hard to evangelize. I try to do that and try to help get people back to church and to not be ashamed or be afraid to ask for help when you need it.”
In his 20 years in law enforcement, Wold said he has arrested many people. By the time a person reaches the jail, Wold said his goals are to have introduced calm to the situation and to have extended an opportunity to become friends with that person.
“Like I said, there is forgiveness,” Wold said. “Whether I have to fight with somebody or just arrest them, I always tell them, ‘I’m not mad at you.’ I’ll forgive and we’ll both grow, and we’ll learn from this. We will move on because we all make mistakes.”
On his way to more dangerous calls that might involve a weapon, Wold often says the prayer to St. Michael. During Lent, Wold will also try to pray the rosary.
“During the season of Lent, it’s not always what you can give up, but what you can do more (of),” Wold said. “Whether I’m going to and from a caller, to a location, to an address, I’m doing the rosary. … We’re all busy. Whether it’s bringing kids to events or meeting with family, everybody has five to ten minutes to do something.”
To hear more from Wold about how he incorporates prayer into his job as a sheriff’s deputy, tune into “Practicing Catholic,” which repeats at 1 p.m. March 15 and 2 p.m. March 16.
As part of the program, Bishop Michael Izen shares information on what to expect during this year’s Archdiocesan Synod. Also, Kate Soucheray explains how the Catholic Church helps lead us through messy lives into renewal.
Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, “Practicing Catholic” can be heard after it has aired at archspm.org/faith-and-discipleship/practicing-catholic or choose a streaming platform at Spotify for Podcasters.
