Late into her 37th year in law enforcement, Mary Patterson still measures her career the same way she did when she started: by the people she’s helped. “I just like interacting with people. I like helping people… just having an impact and knowing my community—that’s pretty rewarding,” Patterson said. A road patrol deputy with the Leelanau County Sheriff’s Office, Patterson has spent nearly four decades responding to everything from routine calls to life-threatening emergencies. But for her, the job has never been about recognition or pay. “You have to love what you do and know that you’re helping people,” she said. “You’re not going to get rich doing this job.” In a small Northern Michigan community, that kind of work becomes personal. Unlike larger cities, where officers may never encounter the same person twice, Patterson has built lasting relationships with the people she serves.