May 6, 2026
Why We Serve
Name: P.O. Noah Quaethem #290
Where are you from and where did you go to high school? I’m from Washington and graduated from Washington High School
Were you in the military? What branch and what was your assignment? I currently serve in the Missouri National Guard as a Military Police Officer.
What did you do prior to getting into law enforcement and do you have any prior public safety experience? Prior to law enforcement, I worked in construction. Outside of being a Military Police Officer, I had no other experience prior to becoming a civilian Police Officer
What academy did you go to? I attended the Eastern Missouri Police Academy in 2024
When did you join Washington PD and why? 2024. I joined Washington PD because it's my home. I grew up here and wanted to give back to the community that I love.
What is your current role within the department and do you have any specialized trainings or assignments? I’m currently assigned to the Patrol Division as a Patrol Officer. No, I don’t have any specialized trainings or assignments yet.
Why did you choose law enforcement as a career? The career field is always something I’ve been drawn to. I joined to help people in ways you can’t in other jobs.
What’s one thing you wish the public knew or understood about law enforcement and one thing you didn’t know until after you started? I wish the public better understood that not every problem can be resolved quickly or overnight, and that some investigations naturally take longer depending on the circumstances. There are many factors that affect timelines, including whether witnesses or suspects can be identified and located, the level of cooperation from those involved, and the realities of ongoing workload and call volume. While there is always a strong desire for quick resolution, the truth is that some cases require time and patience while we work through things to the best of our ability.
The one thing I learned after getting into law enforcement is how much paperwork law enforcement really has to contend with. Incident reports, documentation/informational reports, Crash reports, and supplemental reports on top numerous forms that get added to reports.
What do you enjoy outside of work? I enjoy hiking, shooting sports, and playing video games
Are you married? Kids? I’m married to my beautiful wife, Lilly, and we have one awesome daughter.
Pets? We have a menace of a dog, Juniper.