Law enforcement is not only a job for Woody Wright, its also a very serious responsibility that he is very passionate about.
Wright, who is the Chief of Administration at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, began his career in law enforcement in 1970 as a security police officer in the U.S. Air Force.
When Wright left the Air Force he became a police officer in Illinois for five years before moving back to New Mexico and becoming a Sierra County Deputy Sheriff in Truth or Consequences.
Wright also attended McKendree College while in Illinois, where he majored in criminal justice with a minor in psychology.
Wright moved to Artesia in 1985 to accept a position as an undercover narcotics detective for the Artesia Police Department, where he remained until 1989.
He also worked as a homicide and burglary detective for a time as well as working street patrol for a year while with the APD.
In 1988, when the city of Artesia was trying to sell the former Artesia Christian College, Wright was assigned to the job of showing the property to potential tenants.
After the college was bought by the federal government in 1989, Wright became a physical training instructor for the Bureau of Indian Affairs at the FLETC.
Wright became the director of the BIA Indian Police Academy at Marana, where he remained until 1993. The Indian Police Academy was then moved to Artesia and Wright was back home.
Wright began a new chapter in his career in March, 1999 when he became the Chief of Administration at the FLETC.
Wright said that there are many memories, good and bad, that he retains from his law enforcement career.
"The unique experience of working with the Native American population, being a non-Native American and watching it come from a 1920's law enforcement atmosphere to the 20th Century atmosphere it is now was very rewarding," said Wright.
Wright also said that being involved in the BIA memorial at the FLETC has also been a true honor. "To know you have the chance to pay respects to those who truly made the ultimate sacrifice in law enforcement, being a police officer, really touches you," said Wright.
Wright and his wife Wendy have three children. Michelle, who is a 1998 graduate of Artesia High School; Yvonne who is a 2000 Artesia graduate; and 10-year-old Kayla of the family home. Additionally Michelle has given the Wrights their first grandson, Scott, and is soon to give birth to her second child as well.
The Wrights are members of Trinity Temple Assembly of God and Wright stresses that the Lord and his family are the most important parts of his life.
Wright is also an avid sportsman. He is a primitive hunter, (only hunts with a bow or a muzzleloader) and says that he will not hunt with a rifle.
Although Wright has worked in many different aspects of law enforcement, he said he has learned from every job he had.
"This job carries serious responsibility. It's a service job, cops are here to serve the people," said Wright. "A good cop knows that the job is not about power, its about caring for others."