Pictured left to right: Father Ben, mother Helen, grandmother Jenny, Amber, sister Kassandra, and wife Danielle
Based on her first interaction with a police officer at eight years of age, Amber Garcia knew from that moment that she wanted to be a police officer. This was based on a “crummy interview” she had with the officer when she was interviewed as a witness to a neighborhood fight. “I was really nervous, but I felt crummy after the interview…He didn’t talk to me like a kid and I felt like I was in trouble. He didn’t come down to my level and after that first contact with the police I was determined to become a police officer and do better.” At this young age, I doubt that she knew that her choice, along with determination, resolve, and hard work would lead her down a path to becoming a highly motivated Orange County Sheriff’s Department Deputy and Training Officer assigned to San Clemente, where she would one day be awarded the coveted Medal of Valor.
Deputy Garcia is married to her wife Danielle who is a police officer with the City of Fullerton…a dual law enforcement household, who is expecting a baby in April 2022. Danielle is currently on assignment as Fullerton’s hiring officer and “always trying to snag our bodies’ according to Deputy Garcia.
In this column, we will look closer at Deputy Garcia’s path to success and commitment to OCSD and San Clemente Police Services. With a tight-knit and loving family, Deputy Garcia has benefited our community with her professionalism, high standards, and utilization of her extensive training in dealing with offenders as well as crime victims.
I had the honor of interviewing Deputy Garcia in September 2021 and below are condensed questions and answers to find what is ‘Behind her Badge’.
Question: Describe your background that led you down the path of where you are today?
Answer: I grew up in Corona and subsequently moved to the Inland Empire. I commuted to Beaumont and worked at the jail as a correctional officer. At that time, Corona was filled with cows, and now it’s all housing! I attended community college and got into law enforcement in my early twenties. I graduated from the Orange County Sheriff’s Academy eleven years ago and I take online courses through California Coast College and hope to obtain my Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. With my current schedule, it is a balancing act, but I will get there!
I started over three years ago in San Clemente. My formative years were spent at jail facilities as a correctional officer. I was then accepted into the Academy and sworn in as an OCSD Deputy. I initially worked on the men’s side of the jail and then was assigned to the women’s side as a ‘classification deputy’. This assignment involved interviewing prisoners and figuring out how we could help them during incarceration and rehabilitation. This included examining tattoos, criminal sophistication, and determining a need for possible protective custody. This process was very informative and insightful before coming out of the jail to patrol and deal with potential criminals on the streets. Learning how to deal with different kinds of people, possibly suffering from mental health issues, narcotics or people arrested for various crimes for the first time.
After leaving the jail assignment I was Immediately assigned to San Clemente and prepared for patrol through ‘ride alongs’ in San Clemente and Dana Point. I was happy to be assigned to San Clemente as it has a reputation of being visible and a busy city. I love it and the citizens I have the privilege of interacting with. Although I have had opportunities to transfer I have chosen to stay.
Question: What is your favorite position that you have held to this point?
Answer: Being a Training Officer. It’s a lot of work and some days are more stressful than others but then you have the satisfaction of seeing some of your trainees come back around, driving their own cars and handling calls, you see the growth. Very rewarding to me and to see how far they have come and what they learned from you. We get the ‘cream of the crop’ in San Clemente.
My section of the City includes the beach, high school, and 7-11’s, which I like as it keeps me busy and allows me to be proactive.
Question: What does your typical shift look like?
Answer: I work 12-hour shifts starting at 5:30 p.m. Every day is different. I start with a cup of coffee and end up breaking for car accidents, car break-ins, and any other incidents. I sprinkle in proactive work and talking to people.
Question: Outside of your busy work schedule what are your personal interests?
Answer: I like traveling, camping, hiking, and kayaking. We also have a one-year-old pit bull mix who we are acclimating to be a good boy! I am also trying to focus more on school and need to buckle down. Homeowner issues, work, and life issues keep me busy.
Question: From your perspective, what major law enforcement issues are you and your colleagues facing in the City of San Clemente?
Answer: The biggest thing that has impacted us is Proposition 47 which prior to enactment included arrest-able crimes where we could arrest and jail criminals. With Proposition 47, suspects are released from jail earlier if the crime isn’t considered violent. I feel bad for the victims and this is also allowing suspects to possibly commit more crimes while they are out.
As an example, we had a report of a vandalized hospital in which the offender was identified, arrested, and jailed. With Prop 47, the offender was released as this was considered a ‘citable’ offense and he ended up repeating the crime the next night. Very frustrating as I had to apologize to the victims and citizens and try to explain why this occurs. That doesn’t feel good.
Question: What has been your most dangerous experience in law enforcement?
Answer: A male subject showed up at his girlfriend’s house and a verbal argument ensued. When we arrived on the scene the subject exited his vehicle holding a knife in his hand and began walking towards my partner and me. Several commands were given to drop the knife but he did not listen. I fell back onto all my training and used ‘verbal judo’ in an attempt to get him to stop walking towards us and talk to us. We distracted him long enough and used less-lethal shotgun rounds/k9 to safely get him into custody.
I received the Medal of Valor for using my communication tactics to deescalate the situation without having to use lethal force. I tactically retreated and created space between the subject and me in order to give us time to develop a plan to safely get the subject into custody. I believe building a rapport with a subject helps gain an advantage in a situation like this, which is what I did. The subject’s girlfriend was present during the situation and thanked us for being professional and kind towards him, even though he was brandishing a knife at us.
Question: What are your future goals?
Answer: I have recently been selected to the TRIP team (Targeting Reduction Investigation and Prevention) which is a team of three plain-clothed deputies working ‘undercover’. I enjoy searching for drugs, which is how I got picked for the TRIP team. In one stop alone, I found over a pound of methamphetamine. I am hoping this will lead to an investigative position, plainclothes assignments, and specialize in the sexual crimes unit which would be rewarding to me. After that…a promotion to Sergeant.
Question: Briefly, what would a citizen want to know about you?
Answer: Dedicated and I include that about my partners. Difficult city to work in, but we love this city, are dedicated and we all want to be here and make citizens proud and safe.
Question: How would you describe yourself?
Answer: I’m extremely hardworking and determined. Both of those two things have gotten me to where I am today. I am also very good at communicating and I enjoy talking to people which is how I know most of the local San Clemente residents. I am pretty laid back when it comes to my personal life and I enjoy being with my family and creating memories. To me, family and friends are extremely important and I strive to always create memories and capture them with photos and videos. In the end, my life motto is: You are a collection of choices. The choices you make throughout your life make you who you are. I didn’t grow up in a good neighborhood and I had to make choices that got me where I am today. My choices remind me if you continue to work hard you can achieve anything. I think because I grew up the way I did I value experiences and traveling and seeing the world.
Thank you to Amber for sharing her life and experiences with me. I think you can see how her choices and the path she made led to some magic that will continue into the future.
