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Vang brings new perspective
to Maplewood police force
Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 04/08/2015 - 8:13am
By: Erin Hinrichs
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Nearly eight weeks into training, one of the Maplewood Police Department's newest members, officer Pam Vang, 26, is
focused on learning the ropes so she'll be able to serve the city safely and effectively.
Just as she'll need to act with intention in every situation — whether she's responding to a car accident or a domestic call
she was selective in choosing where to start her career in law enforcement.
"I always knew I wanted to work in a very diverse community, because that's the kind I grew up in," she says. "That's the type
of community I wanted to serve."
Having grown up with four siblings on the East Side of St. Paul, she brings the life experience of a Hmong female to the
police department. Not only is this a new asset for the Maplewood police force; it's also a rare one. According to Jim Yang,
president of the Minnesota Asian Peace Officers Association, Vang is the third female Hmong officer in the state.
Through her involvement with MNAPOA, Vang realizes she's joined the ranks for a select few, but she doesn't really see
herself as a trailblazer.
"I feel [students] seek a lot of advice from me," she says, noting she's just kind of fallen into a mentorship role for Asian youths
aspiring to get into law enforcement. "I'm like,'I'm fresh to the field and am still learning it too."'
A new perspective
Nearly a quarter of residents in Maplewood come from ethnically diverse backgrounds. Of this segment, roughly 10 percent
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identify as Asian, according to estimates from the 2010 U.S. Census. Given the shift in demographics over the years,
Maplewood Police Chief Paul Schnell says the department is mindful to evolve accordingly.
He adds that while all officers must be well rounded, "at the same time, we are also very cognizant of the fact that we want to
make sure we're responsive to the people who make up our community."
The department already employs three male Hmong officers, who assist in translating for Hmong speakers and have helped
their peers get accustomed to cross-cultural norms. But Schnell saw added value in Vang.
"I think she's going to be a great officer, regardless of her gender or ethnic background," he says, emphasizing the fact that
she's well equipped to respond to any type of call. "But she also provides both a gender and an ethnic perspective that's of
tremendous value as well."
In Vang's estimates, she'll be well positioned to connect with Hmong female victims.
"Maybe they won't feel like they can open up to a male Hmong police officer as much," she says, noting language isn't always
the only barrier. "That's what I hope to gain —that level of understanding ... where they feel they can tell me what really
happened, talk openly to me. That goes for anyone, any female victim."
Paving the way
As a student at the University of Minnesota -Duluth, Vang studied criminology. She says she always knew she wanted to
pursue a career in public service even though possibilities like entering law enforcement, joining the military or becoming a
firefighter all challenged traditional Hmong gender norms.
To hone in on the right career path, she spent time during college volunteering with a crisis line for victims of domestic abuse
and sexual assault, and interned with the Duluth Police Department.
After graduation, she got a job working security at the Maplewood Mall. She stayed there for a little more than a year before
transitioning to a new job as a Community Service Officer with the Maplewood police force.
When a full-time police officer position with the department opened up, Commander Mike Shortreed says he encouraged
Vang to apply.
"You kind of get a sense of people when you see them in action, and she had very good customer service demeanor," he
says, noting she's very calm. "I saw she had what it took to get the job done."
Shortweed also admires the fact that she's motivated by the desire to give back to the type of community she grew up in — not
because she's seeking action and adventure, he says.
Having known Vang for the past two and a half years through MNAPOA, Yang can also speak to her level of ambition.
"She's probably one of the few that will pave the way for the younger generation," he says of the Asian police officer
community. "I'm really happy for the Maplewood [department], and law enforcement in general."
Others may be singing her praises, but Vang is careful not to get too far ahead of herself. After being sworn in at the Feb. 23
city council meeting, she's had her sights set on successfully completing the final three phases of her training and year-long
probation period.
She says she filled out more than 50 applications for similar positions after graduating from college and had to be persistent
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to secure her current position.
Moving forward, she says she'd like to place an emphasis on community outreach.
"As a person in law enforcement, I like to try and make contactwith the community in positive aspects too, notjustwhen
they're in need, in a crisis," she says.
Family support
Vang's parents moved from Laos to Minnesota before she was born, fleeing persecution after the Vietnam War. They raised
Vang and her four siblings on the East Side, with the expectation that their daughters would grow up to become something
along the lines of teachers or nurses.
Recalling her parents' reaction to her desire to enter the field of law enforcement, Vang smiles and says, "They were
shocked."
Their main concern thus far, she says, seems to be safety— especially when she was training during a night shift last month.
"It wasn't really common for women to go out at night," Vang says, explaining their own experience growing up in Laos.
Yang concurs that cultural norms are a contributing factor in the lower number of Asians in law enforcement.
"You have to work on it to kind of go outside of that comfort zone to even feel that the law enforcement career is a possibility of
an occupation," he says, adding his parents were also surprised when he became an officer nearly 14 years ago.
Both Yang and Vang's parents attended her swearing-in ceremony, in support of her career decision.
"I think its something my family is still getting used to," Vang says. "We're learning together, but they've been really
supportive."
Erin Hinrichs can be reached at 651-748-7814 and ehinrichs(a7_lillienews.com. Follow herattwitter.com/EHinrichsNews.
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