Courtesy Photo Alpena Police Officer Nick Hayes takes his oath in September 2024. This week is Police Week, honoring officers who put their lives on the line every day to keep the public safe.

ALPENA — Alpena Police Department Officer Nick Hayes’ wife, Lindsay Hayes, spoke to both the challenges and joys of being the spouse of a police officer.

This week is the 63rd Police Week in the state of Michigan, honoring all officers who put their lives on the line every day to keep the public safe.

On Sunday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared May 11 through May 17 as Police Week in Michigan.

“Whereas, there are 573 separate law enforcement agencies in Michigan, employing over 18,000 officers,” Whitmer said in her statement. “Whereas, our law enforcement officers put their lives at risk to keep us safe; and, whereas, we honor and remember those officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty, including the over 600 officers from Michigan; and, whereas, we recognize the hard work of our law enforcement agencies throughout Michigan, from ensuring public safety in our communities and our roads to responding to disasters.”

Lindsay Hayes met Nick Hayes in 2008, and he has been a police officer as long as they’ve been together. They married in 2012.

Nick Hayes served as an officer in Chattanooga, Tenn., for 11 years before they moved to Alpena this past fall.

As the wife of a police officer, Lindsay Hayes has faced some challenges. Nick Hayes has been on duty during riots in Tennessee, she said, and she had to keep her eyes on the TV to make sure he was still alive. He also called her once to say that he was headed to the hospital after getting hurt on the job, which she was surprised at.

She says he doesn’t usually tell her a lot about what happens at work, but he has a great support system at the police department.

“He has a support system, because I only understand so much, because I’m not in it, so I just let him come to me when he wants to,” she said. “He has a lot of really good friends at the department, so that’s one of his outlets, and they understand more than I do.”

For many police officers, there’s a switch between cop mode and spouse/parent mode that can happen very quickly. Lindsay Hayes has noticed that at times. She said that he switched into cop mode once due to an incident at a mall when they were with their son.

Lindsay Hayes said she’s also been on a ride along with her husband and got to see firsthand what he does on the job.

She said for nine years while they were in Chattanooga, he worked long hours, and she had to get used to feeling like a single parent.

In Alpena, Nick Hayes works the midnight shift, and that has been an adjustment for Lindsay Hayes and their kids.

She works from home during the day but has family in the area that helps take care of their children. They have a 9-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter. The family makes sure that the kids don’t wake up their dad while he sleeps during the day.

She said her kids understand that their dad puts bad guys in jail and that he helps keep people safe. She thinks it is important to teach kids that they can approach an officer if they need help, and not to be scared of them.

Despite his night hours, Officer Hayes is a great dad, Lindsay Hayes said. He makes sure to attend his son’s baseball games in the evenings before he goes to work at night.

“He still makes time for everybody,” she said.

Lindsay Hayes said she is very confident in her husband’s abilities on the job and knows he has a good team at the police department to back him up in tough situations.

“I appreciate his willingness to do the job that he does because a lot of people wouldn’t,” Lindsay Hayes said.

In an April 25 press release from the Back the Badge bulletin, community members are encouraged to reach out to our local police department and say thanks, drop off a note, offer to buy officers lunch, or take your child by to meet an officer. You are also encouraged to rally your neighbors and friends to do something for local departments.

Lindsay Hayes said that officers always appreciate a simple thank you as well.