The LAPD detective whose career inspired novelist Michael Connelly's character Renee Ballard is set to retire after twenty-nine years.
KNX News' Margaret Carrero spoke with Detective Mitzi Roberts, who said though she is still happy to go to work each day, it feels like the right time.
"I think I have one of the best positions in the department, and I want to leave on that note; I don't want to leave on a low - I want to leave on a high, and that's, where I feel I'm leaving," said Roberts.
Five years into her career with the LAPD, Roberts became a detective in the Robbery-Homicide Division, and is currently in charge of the cold case unit.
While she is retiring from law enforcement, Roberts says she'll stay on as a volunteer reserve officer and assist on cold cases.
She said every case matters, but "some just impact you more for one reason or another. You feel just a little bit more responsible for it, and I have a couple of those." Roberts says her goal is to see them through.
When Roberts learned that Connelly based the detective Ballard character after her, she says she was humbled and honored.
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