To Serve and Protect: Carl Dortch ’26 Uses His Role as a Police Officer to Give Back to His Community

Carl Dortch ’26, a philosophy major and history minor from Galesburg, has taken the lessons learned as a Knox student-athlete and is applying them to life and his newest adventure, serving as a police officer in Galesburg’s neighboring city, Knoxville. Dortch, who was a member of the Prairie Fire Basketball team, began his training immediately after his graduation.

You’re a little more than a month out of school. What has post-graduation life been like for you?

In the first month, I’ve been hit with so many things in life that I didn’t think about. I learned how healthcare works by filling out that paperwork, and I’ve been looking into getting a house. After I graduated, I bunkered up and went straight into becoming a full-blown man instead of just a college man.

Being from Galesburg, what led you to choose Knox?

I wanted to be close to my father; he’s kind of older, and he had some health issues while I was in college. After graduating from high school, I saw many of my friends go far, and I saw how stressful it was for them to decide how to get there. I didn’t want to go through that stress, and after weighing my options, it came down to Knox College and Monmouth College. Knox is really good at making college as affordable as it can be.

What got you started down the path to your current role in law enforcement?

I always wanted to help people. At the end of my sophomore year, I went through a lot of mental changes, a lot of stuff happened, and I had a rough time. Erica Witkowski, in athletic training, told me to take a class called Sports Care and Prevention, where I was able to help people. I found that helping people got me out of my slump. I saw how happy people were, even if I didn’t have a big duty in the athletic training facility. These athletes are coming off a long day, and as an athlete myself, I know that helping them out and making them laugh can lift a weight off their shoulders.

Was there anything that said to you, “Yes, I want to be a police officer”?

I wanted to be an EMT at one point, but then I thought law enforcement was way better because I could be the person who changes someone's initial action. I really want to help people, whether it is enforcing laws or saving someone from a burning building. 

You’re from Galesburg but are in the process of becoming a police officer in Knoxville. What does it mean to you to stay local?

I see it as a way of giving back because there are a lot of people who helped me get this job in Knoxville, along with a lot of people who pushed me through college and high school, so I’m giving back to those people by keeping them safe. People are going to know this new cop is going to be sitting at that stop sign, so don’t blow through it. 

What role do you think athletics and being an athlete have played in your life?

Being an athlete really sets the tone for discipline. After basketball season, I was afraid of gaining a lot of weight because you still eat the same, but you’re not working out. I told myself not to give myself a lot of time off, so after our last game, I was in the gym. It wasn’t shooting baskets but lifting, doing conditioning. There was something else I had to work for—the power test for law enforcement, so I think athletics, especially at Knox, set a tone for what you need to do for your body. 

What lessons from athletics at Knox can you apply to being a police officer?

Going through the physical portion helped me learn my body and what I need to do every day to keep it healthy. The discipline doesn’t stop at the body and mind; it also extends to how one treats other people. Basketball Coach Corey Harvey really harped on treating people how you want to be treated. You’re representing the College; don’t go out there cursing, don’t scream at the referee, don’t get into fights. That plays in the real world because you are representing yourself. I can’t be a tough police officer screaming at everyone and expect them to be elevated; that's the main discipline I learned from athletes.