Ask Anaheim Police Capt. Joe Vargas why he became a cop and he doesn’t hesitate: “My Dad.”
Capt. Joe Vargas and his father, Ret. Santa Ana Police Ofc. Jose Vargas
His father, Jose Vargas, was Santa Ana Police Department’s first Hispanic Affairs Officer and one of Orange County’s most beloved community leaders. He was credited with creating trust between the Latino community and the police department at a time “when police officers were to be feared,” his son said.
In many ways, Joe Vargas modeled his 30-year law enforcement career after his father’s. But when he retires in May, Joe Vargas will leave behind a legacy of police and community innovation all his own.
To read the rest of the profile, which was featured on the Orange County Register’s Web site and on the cover of the Anaheim Bulletin, click here.
