An Officer and LGBTQIA+ An Interview with Kat Mische Elle
Johnnie, where did your adventure begin? had planned on retiring from law enforcement on January 7th last year in 2021. I picked that specific day because it was the day I graduated from the academy, 21 years ago to the day. In 1994, that was also my wedding date. Even though we are now divorced, I have a lot of good memories of that day. So, for me, that day was symbolic. I was ready to move forward and pursue what I really wanted to do. I felt that my true purpose in life was to give back as much as I possibly could to support Chase, my son, and his community. Twenty years ago, I was 35, and it was Christmas time. My wife and I were hanging out in the kitchen. She turned to me and said, “Hey, I want you to prepare yourself with something I need to tell you because I know who you are.” I was staring back at her, confused because I don’t even know what the conversation was going to be about. My wife continued, “I know who you are. I know how you were raised with your religion and being very conservative and all of that. I know your family!” I just stared at her, wondering where this was all going, and then she said, “Chase is gay.” I said, “What?! Chase is five.” This was pure mothers’ intuition. She just knew. I wasn’t in denial; I just didn’t see it, I only saw my son who I loved. And my wife was spot on. She said, “Here’s the thing. Is he asking for sporting equipment? Asking to play football, baseball, basketball, whatever?” I said, “No.” She continued, “Does he want big trucks and tractors, or does he like playing in the dirt in the back yard?” Again, I replied, “No,” and I began to smile as it all started to sink in. “What did he ask for this year?” she asked. “He wanted an Easy Bake Oven,” I said. My wife looked me in the face and said, “Right!” with a glimmer in her eyes. “Hold on… Emeril is huge right now,” I said. “Chase and I watch him every day on television. Maybe he wants to be a chef?” My wife looked at me and said again, “Johnnie, Chase is gay.” I said, “Okay, whatever, it doesn’t matter.” It was just that small of a conversation. And, to me, it was no big deal. The bottom line was he was my son. I loved him. End of subject. I was raised to be an alpha male, growing up on a 3000-acre ranch in Nevada surrounded by other strong, hardworking Christian men like my father and my grandfather. And when I wasn’t working, I was playing sports. I graduated with a master’s in sports medicine, and I worked in the NFL. I was the head athletic trainer at Grand Canyon University for three and a half years and worked at several physical therapy clinics. I began rehabbing several Scottsdale police officers, and one officer asked me if I ever thought of going into law enforcement. My first response was, “Absolutely not. I’ve never thought of doing that.” Then I became curious because I needed to think about more than just myself. I needed to consider the benefits that the career could provide for me and my family. The officer said, “We’re hiring.” 10
I N S P I RE D S U CC E SS MAGAZINE | SP RING/ SUMME R 2022
J OHNNIE GHIGL IA
SO C I ET Y & C U LT U R E
