“Everything happens for a reason.” This is Sgt. Kari Gomes’ favorite quote. When she recalls the timeline of her life, it is clear to see how she came to UCMPD and why she remains. Kari grew up along the Central Coast. Her passion was sports and showing pigs in the 4-H and FFA at her county fair.
These activities shaped her work ethic, determination, effort, and drive. Kari found herself in leadership roles as a child, which now helps her as a Police Sergeant. She is comfortable making unpopular decisions if she knows it is in the team’s best interest. Kari relies on her instincts and competitive nature to make decisions for the greatest good of the team.
Kari moved to the Central Valley for college in a quest to become a high school Agriculture teacher. She envisioned being gone on weekday nights and weekends with students for their competitions for public speaking, livestock judging, and showing animals. She met her husband and life partner the first day of college as he was raking leaves from underneath her 15-foot travel home residence she hauled to the college farm to live in. This year marks half of her life with him. They both love agriculture to this day.
Her job was to take care of dairy heifers in exchange for rent and utilities. The other portion of her assignment was to help an instructor keep his soil science lab clean. It was a disaster. She found a push cart and started loading piles of “junk.” The instructor ran into the lab and immediately noticed his prize possession was missing, ashes from a famous volcano. Kari had to dig it out of the dumpster. It was then she realized how important the items in the lab are to professors. When UC Merced faculty panic when their items are missing or stolen, she recognizes how the item means the world to them.
Kari obtained a job at a large retail store apprehending shoplifters. She enjoyed her job, but loved the “internal” cases. She worked on a case for three weeks studying hours of video surveillance in the safe room where thousands of dollars of cash was stored. Money was missing. Kari was able to recognize how the slightest change in body language can indicate deception.
She paid attention to her instincts and was able to identify the employee responsible for cash theft. It was fascinating to her that the suspect would quickly swipe $100 bills on the floor and use tape attached to her toes to pick the money up without ever bending over. The suspect wore slip on shoes on the days she was planning to steal.
Her willingness to be patient and her determination to solve the theft sparked an interest in investigations. Kari went on a ride along with a few agencies and she was assigned to ride with UCMPD Detective, Raquel Rios, when she was a patrol officer at Merced PD. They had a blast together and were referred to as the “party car” because Raquel would laugh loudly on the radio with dispatch. Kari knew Merced PD was where she wanted to work. The department hired her and she went to the police academy. That previous year, Kari finished her degree and was teaching 3rd and 7th grade. Her frustration with teaching solidified her desire to go into law enforcement.
Kari realized her value in law enforcement is to be herself and to never pretend to be someone she isn’t. Her authenticity and honesty have helped her to help others. People interacting with the police are not calling to share happy news. Kari uses her heart and instinct to lead her decision-making in the field.
She misses patrol work at Merced PD, but knows UCMPD found her at the right moment of her life. Kari received a layoff notice the night before having her first baby, who is now 10 years old. Cities across California were in a horrible budget crisis. Her options were to commute to the Bay Area or Southern California. A few weeks after her son was born, a police officer spot opened at UCMPD. Kari went on a ride along and knew it would be the next step of her career. She enrolled her baby in the ECEC and the rest is history. In April, she will celebrate her 10th anniversary on campus.
UC Merced has changed Kari for the good. She had the opportunity to start the Investigations Unit as the Detective. Helping students with their hardships fulfills Kari. She doesn’t accept no for an answer when it comes for obtaining resources for a student. Although untraditional and sometimes unpopular, Kari will not give up on a student.
She has purchased morning after pills for sexual assault survivors, pushed for buying a student a new phone, collected extra food from a funeral for hungry students, and always creates space for students she has interacted with to come chat in her office. Kari is firm with students about how suicide is not an option for them. She pays attention to warning signs and listens to them without judgement. Together they make plans to obtain help and to get them back on track.
Her favorite day of the year is Commencement. Watching students who attempted suicide, wanted to drop out of school, who lost their brother to violence, had their parents open credit cards in their name, and students who don’t have a home to go to during breaks, walk across the stage gives her inspiration. She cheers for them and appreciates how hard they worked for their degree. It gives her joy to know her partners had such a positive impact in that student’s life. One call for service, one conversation, and one compliment can change the trajectory of a person’s future.
Our students overcome issues nobody should have to experience. Kari enjoys supporting them during and after their graduation day. She loves to write letters of recommendation for employment opportunities and Graduate school.
Kari thrives on improving how UCMPD polices. It makes the department better and always striving to serve in a higher capacity. She uses her voice to share with the campus how UCMPD does a great job at community policing. If you see her, be sure to let her know your perceptions, as she will gladly provide you with as much information as possible to demonstrate the why and how her team serves at UC Merced. Kari is proud to be in law enforcement at one of the most difficult times in history.
