Sara Mejia had a more memorable interview than most job hunters when she applied to Madison PD's accounting unit in the summer of 2019. It was July 19th, and Madison's downtown was at a standstill as two MG&E utility stations blazed. Sara says she didn't want to miss the opportunity to compete for a job that her longtime friend and former neighbor pointed her toward; she braved the traffic, made it to the City-County Building, and interviewed in the dark. Sara won the position of Accounting Technician 2 and immediately got to work, undertaking time-intensive research and drafting proposals for purchasing projects at the department. She is engaged in long-term work on employee retention and well-being, as well as critical day-to-day functions like handling payments for services and supplies at all 7 MPD facilities.
Sara lived in Madison for 25 years before joining MPD, and her ability to adapt and find new paths is evident in her personal and professional life. She laughingly recounts that the latest challenge she took on was last month, when she went ice skating after a long hiatus. "It's not like riding a bike" Sara says wryly. She talks about her passion for cooking and baking, and her two grown sons. Service run deeply in Sara's family; one of her adult sons is a Deputy Sheriff and the second is a college senior in the National Guard. Sara's own commitment to public service is deeply rooted and heartfelt. "I have a passion for what I do, supporting the public-facing department" she says. "I love working for a cause and not the bottom line. I really want to be part of making a difference."
