Offices - Police Hero

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Roman Ramos, UT Rio Grande Valley - Featured Officer of the Month

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Officer of the Month

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Roman Ramos currently serves The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley as Patrol Lieutenant with the School of Medicine Sector of the Police Department. His area of operations spans four counties on the southernmost region of this state and focuses on providing service, safety, and law enforcement to all School of Medicine areas of operation.

In 2003, Ramos began his professional service to the community by joining the US Army Reserves as Respiratory Tech with the 228th Combat Support Hospital in San Antonio, TX.

Ramos began his service as Peace Officer in 2006 upon his graduation from the University of Texas System Police Academy. The UT Brownsville/Texas Southmost College Police Department provided great opportunities for personal and professional development. Ramos was part of an active bicycle patrol unit which focused on crime prevention and positive community engagement. Ramos assisted in public information efforts and recruiting and hiring for the UTB Police Department. Ramos was part of the creation of UTB Police Department’s first dedicated Criminal Investigations Unit.

Ramos joined the University of Texas at Dallas Police Department where he was able to reconnect with the community through bicycle patrol and regular law enforcement efforts, but most of all, through community outreach programs such as Rape Aggression Defense System’s Women’s Self Defense courses.

Ramos returned to Brownsville to assist during the dissolution of the UTB/TSC Police Department and the creation of the University of Texas at Brownsville Police Department. Ramos was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and made responsible for the Investigations Unit which handled Criminal Investigations, Internal Investigations, and Recruiting and Hiring. It was at this time, that Ramos found a true passion in Law Enforcement and experienced a recommitment to the mission of UT System Police and the campus community of UT Brownsville. Ramos believed it was the responsibility of each officer to be the best version of themselves in any situation to safeguard the community and to ensure personal officer safety in the field. Ramos attended a local SWAT Course in order to qualify for the UT System Rapid Response Team. SRRT afforded Ramos access to specialized equipment and training to better prepare an officer to eliminate a threat on campus. SRRT also helped create professional relationships throughout the UT System which have helped in the planning of security details during local large events.

Ramos was promoted to Lieutenant overseeing the Patrol Division Night Watch until the creation of University of Texas Rio Grande Valley which combined local assets from UT Pan American, UT Health Science Center San Antonio, and UT Brownsville. The great support given by Supervisors, Officers, Public Safety Officers, and Administrative Staff have made what could be a daunting task a relatively smooth transition.

Ramos continues to serve with the SRRT, RAD Women’s Self Defense, and as an Instructor for Police Cyclists with the International Police Mountain Bike Association.

Ramos is grateful for the opportunities, challenges, and the trust placed in him to lead officers in the service to the Rio Grande Valley.

Ramos appreciates that he could never accomplish any of the tasks entrusted to him without the support of family and his wife, Cynthia Ramos. From the beginning of Ramos’ career, Cynthia has believed the mission of UT System Police is larger than any one officer and has sacrificed the most during these 11 years. She has endured long days and surprise calls to duty at 3 am and training trips away from home and moves across Texas and back all to ensure Lt. Ramos could be in a place where he could be useful.

Ramos looks forward to challenges that follow and the continued growth and success of the UT Rio Grande Valley.