Bobby Shell – 16 in 2016

Benton Police School Resource Officer; Youth Pastor, Calvary Baptist
Lifetime Saline County Resident

Bobby Shell is known as someone who goes beyond the call of duty to help the community. He doesn’t expect or want recognition. He simply does what he thinks is the right thing to do in all situations. When he’s not mentoring students as a school resource officer, Bobby leads the youth at Calvary Baptist Church.

All of this service never takes away from his dad duties. He tries to never miss his children’s soccer games, school events or doctor appointments, and strives every night to kiss them goodnight no matter how big they get.

As a boy, Bobby pursued his dream of becoming a police officer while playing “cops and robbers” with his brothers and friends. His dream became reality 16 years ago when he joined the Benton Police Department. Two years ago he became one of four school resource officers, where he enjoys mentoring students and helping them make good choices.

“Being a school resource officer is more than being a cop in the school,” he says. “We don’t just walk the halls, we form relationships with the kids we are blessed to be with daily. It is pretty awesome when the kids are happy to see you both in and out of school. The first time a student saw me in a store I got a big hug just because they were happy to see me.”

Bobby’s call to serve expanded four years ago. “I surrendered to the ministry this past August and was selected as the youth director at Calvary Baptist Church, where I’m able to minister to the youth in our area,” he says.

The saying “Moms know best” resonates with Bobby. His mother inspires his giving spirit. “She was always a giving person, always going above and beyond to help me, my friends, her friends or anyone else that needed help,” notes Bobby. “I also look up to my father-in-law. He is a great Christian man and inspires me to want to be like him. He’s always full of good guidance when I need it.”

If he wasn’t a police officer, Bobby suspects he would go into the ministry full-time. But for now, he says, “God has me where I need to be. If that changes, I am sure he will let me know. We serve an awesome God.”