Fresno State police officer Abigayle Egger will never forget talking with Chief David Huerta, who encouraged her to become a police officer so she could get the experience she needed to become an investigator.

"Growing up, I have always had a heart for my community," she said. "I volunteered weekly at a local church assisting with the technology for the church service. I loved to work and knew my future career was in a form of law enforcement."

Egger took classes at her local community college (concurrent with an independent studies program) and worked two jobs.

She started as a student at Fresno State in August 2013 as a transfer student.

"Knowing my passion for law enforcement, I was given the opportunity to work at the Fresno State Police Department as a public safety assistant," she said. "My primary job was to help with the technology within the department."

In December 2015, she graduated with a degree in criminology with an emphasis in victimology (the psychological effects of crime on victims).

Huerta's support fueled her next decision. She was accepted into the police academy and graduated in the top five of her class.

"This was a reminder that when I put my mind to something, I can and will succeed," she said.

One of the things Egger likes most about police work is getting to know the people she serves.

“This allows me to perform acts of service ranging from buying a burger for someone who is down on their luck, stopping to help someone push their broken down car out of the roadway or helping them through a tough situation when they have been the victim of a crime," she said.

Currently, Egger assists as an instructor of a self-defense class for women called Rape Aggression Defense. The class focuses on awareness, risk reduction/avoidance and basic defense skills.

"What I like most about being a part of this class is just seeing the women grow in pure confidence," she said. "It is amazing to see their transformation after having gone through the course. This class taps into the strength every woman has, physically, mentally and emotionally."

In her off hours, Egger loves to hike. She also enjoys going to the gym to stay in shape for her line of work.

On a cold day, Egger enjoys staying in and playing the piano. She is learning how to play “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” from “Mary Poppins.”

Egger has two pets: a laid-back rabbit named Simba (yes, he is named after the character in “The Lion King”) and an energetic cat named Derringer that loves to play fetch.