WOMEN OF CLARKSVILLE POLICE DEPT

OFFICER ARIANA PRATHER

OFFICER VICTORIA CROSBY

Andrea Martin has been at the Clarksville Police Department for about five years, where she spent one year as a Field Training Officer. She was promoted to Detective in January 2021 and is currently assigned to the Special Operations Homicide Unit.

Martin loves the support she receives from the community and says that CPD is a great department with good people which makes work easy and enjoyable. She chose law enforcement because she wanted to have a career that gave her purpose. “You really do have to want to help people, but it’s more than just that, it’s challenging. It’s also rewarding in many different ways. Every day is something new and different, the people, the situations. Being in law enforcement allows me to make a difference in a positive way. Even the shortest interactions can make a difference in someone’s life.” said Martin.

Martin recognizes the benefits of working with great officers who’ve helped her get to where she is today. She mentioned Sgt. Vanatta, who she says,sets high standards for all officers. Sgt. Duke and Sgt. Newman have also influenced her greatly. “I give credit to them for believing in me,and motivating me to be better.”

Ariana Prather is part of the Clarksville Police Department Community Relations Unit. When asked about her favorite thing about being a police officer is, Prather says “I can be so active and genuine with my community. It’s a great privilege because I get to deal with community members on a more personal level. It’s great when citizens call and ask for an officer to be at a child’s birthday party or attend a local community event.”

Basketball remains one of her personal passions. She started playing at the age of five at the YMCA. Growing up, she played on several AAU teams and competed in multiple tournaments across the country. She attended a Division 1 Junior College on a full academic and athletic scholarship.

Prather’s advice to women considering a career in law enforcement: “Go for it. Don’t let anything stop you from doing what you want to do. We often limit ourselves because we don’t think we’re strong enough, smart enough or fast enough. You have to change your thought process. People tried to discourage me from joining CPD because I’m an African-American female, but look at where I am today. Join if you’re interested, regardless of your hair texture, stature or education level. You can do anything you set your mind to.”

Victoria Crosby is very passionate about being a patrol officer and keeping her hometown safe. “I love living here, and I’m so proud to work for the city where I grew up.” Her work is very challenging as she is currently assigned to the Fatal Accident Crash Team.

“Whenever there’s a really serious crash, I get to go figure out what happened and give the family answers when there are serious injuries or fatalities occur,” Crosby said. “I have also gotten my car seat certification so I can help other parents correctly install their car seats. I want to help reduce the amount of preventable deaths that happen because of unsafe driving and improperly restrained children.”

Her mom’s career as a special agent in the IRS inspired Crosby’s career in law enforcement. Crosby didn’t know if she was qualified but read up on the requirements, filled out an application and took the PT test. “I didn’t train as hard as I should have so I didn’t pass the first time,” Crosby said. “So, I took the training more seriously and went back. I passed in May, continued through the process and was eventually hired by CPD in September 2017. It was definitely worth the effort and the wait. I love my job and I’m able to support myself and my daughter because of it.”

Her advice: “Do the things you talk about. Work hard to overcome obstacles and don’t call it quits after a failure. Keep working until you get what you want.”

Vanatta says, “Being in law enforcement in Clarksville is great because of the people in this community. Hardly a day goes by that someone doesn’t thank me. It’s a great place to be.”

A career in law enforcement wasn’t always Vanatta’s plan. She knew she wanted to do something that wasn’t the same old thing every day. “In law enforcement no two days are the same,” Vanatta said. “That keeps things interesting and encourages creative problem solving.” She cites her competitive side as a key driving force, saying that it pushes her to work hard and makes her always want to be the best at what she does.

Her advice: “Don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone. People are so much more than what they think. You just have to be comfortable being uncomfortable. You should always keep learning and growing.”

DETECTIVE BRITTANY FEINBERG

Brittany Feinberg is currently a Detective assigned to the District 2 Criminal Investigations Unit and a team leader for the Crime Scene Team. She was born and raised in Clarksville, graduated from APSU and has been on the force for eleven years.

Feinbergs favorite part of the job is working with the Crime Scene Team and being able to process most of Clarksville’s major crime scenes. “Evidence is crucial to prosecuting a case,” Feinberg said. “And the evidence we recover can lead to the prosecution of the right person or prevent someone from being wrongfully charged.”

When not at work, Feinberg is passionate about power lifting. She loves competing and being on the platform. She is always striving to be better.

Her advice to other women interested in law enforcement would be to stay true to who you are and your values and to stand up for what you believe in.

OFFICER GRACE BRISSON

Grace Brisson is originally from New York. Her husband’s Army career brought them to Clarksville about five years ago where they are now raising 8-month-old son.

Brisson has been with CPD for about two years. She says Clarksville reminds her of the small town where she grew up. She loves the sense of community and support that she feels here. Always interested in the law, Brisson graduated with a bachelors degree in criminal justice. Her goal is to make a career in law enforcement, not just a job.

Her advice to women interested in joining the force: “Be yourself. It’s hard not to mold into what you think a female police officer should be. I’m so lucky to be working with such strong females from whom I can continue to learn every time I go to work. Every officer, male or female, brings something to the job that is valuable and that’s what makes us whole as a police force.”

OFFICER LYSSED PACHECHO

Lyssed Pachecho is a Night Shift Patrol Officer who has been with The Clarksville Polic Department for almost four years. Her favorite part of the job is meeting different people every day. Pachecho is not originally from Clarksville and loves the fact that our close proximity to Fort Campbell allows her to meet people from all over the world.

Pachecho’s passions both personally and professionally involve helping others. “I try my best to extend a helping hand whenever someone needs one,” she said. “Being a police officer is my greatest accomplishment. I have always wanted to make a difference and help people but never imagined coming this far.”