Officer Vargas has served with the Pelican Crest Police Department for 13 years, working the day and swing shift rotations across the coastal district. Known around the precinct for her calm, steady presence on scene, she’s built a reputation for de-escalating tense situations before they become something worse — residents on her beat are as likely to know her by name as by badge number.

Off duty, she volunteers with the department’s community outreach program, running youth safety talks at local schools. She lives by a simple rule: the badge means nothing if people don’t trust the person wearing it.