Because of Her: Officer Milcah Rivera

From invisible ink to making a visible impact, Officer Milcah Rivera is currently living out her dream.

She fell in love with policing at 6 years old, while watching episodes of "America's Most Wanted."

She told her parents. She told her teachers. And all of her classmates knew  — Milcah was going to be a detective when she grew up.

"I was the child always asking why," Milcah says. "In school, at the Scholastic Book Fair, I was choosing forensic books. I was buying invisible ink so I could use it while I played detective.

Raised in the Chicagoland area, Milcah carried her dream of policing to the University of Illinois-Chicago, where she majored in criminal justice.

After graduation, Milcah wanted more than a job, she wanted a purpose. She's fluent in Spanish and set out to find a community where this could make a difference. She settled on Madison, where a growing Spanish-speaking population meant her voice  - and her empathy - could truly matter.

"When it's a call where I am speaking Spanish, or just any call, I treat every interaction as if I am talking to my family," Milcah says.

Today Officer Rivera serves on the city's south side, living out her childhood dream. She's proof that not all dreams fade with time — some grow stronger, clearer and more meaningful.

"I'm wearing this badge for you," Milcah says.