Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Answering the call: CVTC student to graduate with position as officer at RFPD
At 20 years old, Destany Pedersen is wiser than her years let on.
Since the age of 14, she has honed her law enforcement skills through the Hudson Police Department’s Police Explorers, a hands-on program for young people interested in law enforcement. That experience changed everything.
Through the program, now called cadets, Pedersen trained alongside officers, learning to respond to real-world scenarios such as traffic stops, burglaries, and even hostage situations. She didn’t just observe; she practiced, competed, and built the foundation for her future career.
“That’s when I knew,” she said. “This is what I want to do.”
Now, six years later, that early interest has turned from college to career.
Pedersen will graduate from Chippewa Valley Technical College’s River Falls campus on Friday, May 22, with a degree in criminal justice. She’ll walk across the stage with a badge waiting for her at the River Falls Police Department.
At CVTC, Pedersen found a program that pushed her beyond textbooks. The Criminal Justice program emphasizes what officers may encounter outside of the classroom, something she says made all the difference. From writing reports and wearing a uniform to participating in live-action training scenarios with role players, every day brought her closer to the realities of the job.
“It really prepares you for what you’re walking into,” she said. “You get to make mistakes here, learn from them and grow before you’re out in the field.”
Those simulations, often set up like real homes or crime scenes, require more than knowledge. They demand quick thinking, communication and the ability to treat every scenario as real, even when it’s a classroom exercise.
“It takes a lot of mental focus,” Pedersen said. “You have to flip that switch and treat it like it’s happening in real life.”
That mindset will serve her well as she steps into a profession that can be unpredictable and demanding. While she admits it can feel daunting to enter law enforcement at a young age, Pedersen is grounded in the training and support system around her.
“I know I’m not going into it alone,” she said. “There are people there to guide you, and it’s okay to learn as you go.”
Her journey has already included daunting experiences, like being tased during a training exercise while interning with the Hudson Police Department.
“It was the longest five seconds of my life,” she said with a laugh.
Still, she sees every experience as preparation.
Just days after graduation, Pedersen will begin CVTC’s Law Enforcement Academy, continuing the fast-paced momentum she’s built. And while she’s focused on becoming a sworn patrol officer, she already has her eyes on the future, possibly in crime scene investigation or forensics, and one day, teaching the next generation of officers.
“I love learning,” she said. “And I’d love to give that back someday.”
As she prepares to graduate, there’s a mix of excitement and nostalgia. Her tight-knit CVTC class has spent two years learning, growing and supporting one another. She knows those connections will remain as they follow their careers.
“We’ll all end up crossing paths again,” she said. “That’s the cool part.”
