The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
By Melanie Sharpe-Lessen The Quill Staff
From now on, if you speed through La Harpe, Jake won't be the one shaking his finger at you or pulling you over, he has completed his run as the town's police officer. Jake Snelson has served the town's police department for 33 years and 10 months.
Jake states he didn't put much thought into becoming a cop, he simply stated he just wanted to "fight crime" and keep his kids, as well as other kids protected from drug dealers.
When asked what Jake loved about La Harpe, he quickly said, "Everything, and everybody." Jake said that La Harpe is just a nice town. He and his wife, Mary, love everyone here just like it was their home town, of Harden. The community here is like their family.
Jake said that the most bizarre event he went through, in his thirty three years, was enduring an extensive wreck in 1992. A man speeding through McDonough County with a stolen car, wrecked into his patrol car sending him into over a year of recuperation. Today he's had no extenuating injuries, except for a knee that requires a brace when doing a bit more strenuous activities.
Jake also wanted to make a point of saying to the community that "It's wonderful to have the friends that he has here, and that it's a wonderful town that he and his wife hope to be a part of for a long time."
Jake's advice to future cops of La Harpe: "Remember you have to live here, not just enforce the laws. Make friends:" Jake states no matter what you do people are going to think you should have done it another way. It's a tough job to enforce the laws of a small town, but also get the friendship and love of the community. Jake seemed to do that well.
Everyone appreciates Jake's work here in the community. We wish you all the best and hope that you continue to enjoy living in La Harpe and your retirement.