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Giving back to the community
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Posted on May 12 2004
As a child attending Hopwood Junior High School, Sylvan M. Rangamar already wanted to be a police officer and would voluntarily join the law enforcement program offered at the school.
Fast forward 23 years to today, he is now known as Sgt. Sylvan Rangamar of the Department of Public Safety Traffic Section.
“It’s a commitment that I’ve made to our community since I was sworn in and given a badge,” he said. “It is a way for me to give back to the community and try to make an impact and provide safety…the best that I can.”
Despite the negative comments that the officers sometimes get, Rangamar said he understands the responsibilities and “everything else that comes with the job.”
“In the academy, you learn a lot about discipline, and that’s very important for all officers,” he said. “We have to expect the unexpected because we’re exposed to anything, from good to bad. Sometimes people would be swearing, but as officers of the law, all we have to do is swallow it and do the job the best that we can. Remember, the department didn’t call us, we came on our own.”
Rangamar decided to enroll in the 6th Cycle Police Academy in 1987 on the advice of his grandfather, soon after returning from college in Hawaii.
Before joining the Traffic Section, Rangamar worked under several divisions, including the Division of Corrections, Patrol Section, and the Criminal Investigation Bureau. He was also part of the Tactical Response Enforcement Team, the local DPS Swat team.
Rangamar was recently recognized as a Division Employee of the Year during the Public Service Recognition Week. He is among the few eligible for the Department Employee of the Year, which will be announced on Labor Day.
Rangamar acknowledged that his family has a lot to do with his successful career, and that their support throughout the years is “very much appreciated.”
“I would like to thank my family because they’ve been very understanding and supportive throughout my career,” he said. “They understand my schedule, even though sometimes I work 16 hours a day and don’t return home until 10pm or 11pm. They have been very supportive and I thank them.”
