Indiana Township resident Amy Roenker grew up in family of teachers and nurses in Rochester, N.Y. But a college summer internship with the Rochester Police Department set her on a new path.
From the start, her college adviser wasn’t exactly enthusiastic about the internship.
“He told me not to expect too much because I was a woman and that they might just keep me busy typing,” recalled Roenker, who’s now 49.
Undeterred, Roenker was determined to have a productive internship. She soon found herself going on nightly ridealongs with officers, seeing firsthand all of the emergency calls fielded by the police force.
“They welcomed me with open arms and involved me in everything, but kept me safe,” Roenker said. “They kept me outside of the houses — I witnessed some horrible domestics and homicides. They were protective in that way.”
She interned during the 3 to 11 p.m. patrol shift.
That summer spent seeing drug raids, vehicle accidents, domestic disputes, traffic stops and community programs hosted by the police served as a catalyst for Roenker’s decision to pursue law enforcement.
“That drove me to know that I wanted to do something in law enforcement, and it taught me that a woman can do anything she wants,” Roenker said.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Edinboro University (now part of PennWest) and a master’s of education in marriage and family therapy from Duquesne University.
Roenker moved to Pittsburgh in 1998 and spent eight years employed at the Center for Victims of Violent Crime in Allegheny County.
“I was a victim advocate, and I worked through the city of Pittsburgh, mostly with the sex assault and family crisis division, handling most of the sexual assault that came through,” she said.
Most of the victims Roenker assisted were female, many of them minors.
The challenges of the job are often rewarded by relative successes. “When I see juveniles (from cases I’ve handled) and they have jobs and are doing positive things — they tell me all these good things and they’ve done it on their own — that makes me feel good to have installed some goal or motivation in them that they can do something for themselves.”
Roenker noted her cases touch all socioeconomic levels.
“You’re working with the offense, and it crosses everyone from wealthy families to poor families,” Roenker said.
Since 2006, Roenker has worked full time as a juvenile probation officer in the high-impact unit with Allegheny County.
Her cases involve male and female juvenile sex offenders ages 10 to 21.
“They’ve been found as an adjudicated delinquent in juvenile court, which is the equivalent of being found guilty in adult court,” Roenker said.
Finding fitness
Working with sexual offenders can bring a certain level of stress and challenges for Roenker, and she has found a healthy way to cope with the demands of her career.
“I use fitness to cope. I like to work out, so that’s been my outlet,” she said.
About seven years ago, Roenker added personal trainer to her resume, working part time as a fitness instructor and personal trainer in a variety of fitness classes offered at the Lauri Ann West Community Center in O’Hara.
She became a personal trainer three years ago and offers female-only programs for girls aged 13 to 18.
The one-hour strength training class is designed to help teen girls develop self-confidence, strength and healthy movement patterns in a motivating and supportive environment.
“The program focuses on proper technique, functional strength and overall fitness while promoting positive body image and lifelong healthy habits,” Roenker said.
People never seem to peg Roenker as a probation officer.
“People are surprised. They say I don’t look like a probation officer so a lot of times they are taken aback,” she said.
Roenker’s law enforcement training blends nicely with her role as fitness coach.
“It brings an element to the fitness. My training style is, I will push you as hard as you want to be pushed and then push you a little bit more. I like to challenge people because they are afraid to challenge themselves. The machines can be intimidating. I like to make fitness fun, too,” she said.
In addition, she’s a certified spin instructor and has completed the Pittsburgh Marathon.
Roenker’s next fitness move is becoming certified as a Parkinson’s disease fitness instructor.
“My father is 75 and has Parkinson’s, and I hope to implement such a class in the future at Lauri Ann West,” Roenker said.
Lauri Ann West fitness center manager Cassie Conti said Roenker’s dedication to her clients is unmatched.
“Especially her young, female clients,” Conti said. “She’s always helping them to get stronger, but she also helps these girls build so much confidence and self-esteem. I love watching her with all of her clients. She genuinely loves what she does. She’s the definition of tough love.”
