Melissa Walpole, married to our city’s Chief of Police is an under-the-radar influencer. Being the wife of the Police Chief brings it’s own responsibilities including being the rock of the family and a true person of patience and understanding of an ever-changing schedule when the Chief is called to duty. Melissa, the librarian at Scotts Valley High School also volunteers in a ministry and is a calming presence and positive influencer to many in the community.
Before coming to Scotts Valley, where did you live? What brought you to Scotts Valley and how long have you lived here?
I was born & raised in Iowa. I moved to Santa Cruz when I was 16. I moved to Scotts Valley from SC when I married Steve Walpole Jr in 1999.
What do you love most about living here?
I love Scotts Valley for the small town feel & the community. It is why we chose to raise a family here. I wanted my children to have roots & feel connected. I love that I can walk from one end of town to the other and along the way there are people that wave & say hi. I also love how the citizens are so supportive of our public safety workers.
Please describe what drives and motivates you to do more for others and for the people of Scotts Valley.
It’s the people of Scotts Valley inspire me to do more for the community-especially the teenagers & students I work with at the SVHS Library. I am constantly amazed by the resiliency of the human spirit and what happens when kindness & acceptance abound. I strive to make the school library a place where all are welcome. I strive to find books in which each student can find relatable literary characters. Also love inspires me, & that’s why my husband & I volunteer for a ministry that serves engaged couples in the area.