RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - Meet Rancho Cordova Police Department (RCPD) School Resource Officer Thomas Tiapula. Officer Tiapula partners with K9 Zoe to further strengthen relationships with Rancho Cordova schools and with youth in our community.

Officer Tiapula has always wanted to help people. His father thought he would be a doctor or follow in his footsteps as a pastor, but he discovered his calling was law enforcement. He attended different law enforcement-related programs and participated in ride-alongs with several agencies to develop an understanding of what it meant to be in law enforcement.

In addition, Officer Tiapula grew up in a neighborhood where there was not trust with the police, and he was told as a child that seeing an officer meant something bad was happening. When he learned the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office patrolled that neighborhood, he joined the agency in November 2015 to help change that trust and perception.

Officer Tiapula worked at the Main Jail and Patrol in his childhood neighborhood before he joined RCPD as a patrol officer in summer 2020.

“What caught my interest in joining the RCPD team was the family atmosphere within the department, but most importantly, within the community,” said Officer Tiapula. “I grew up in the Samoan culture where family is everything to us.”

Officer Tiapula is excited to do what he loves as a new School Resource Officer: help others. He supports the following schools: Cordova Meadows Elementary School, Cordova Villa Elementary School, Folsom Cordova Community Charter, Kinney High School/Prospect Community Day School, Mather Heights Elementary School, Navigator Elementary School, Peter J. Shields Elementary School, Riverview STEM Academy, and White Rock Elementary School.

“I was interested in becoming a School Resource Officer to build relationships and trust with the youth growing up today,” said Officer Tiapula. “Partnering with K9 Zoe was an added bonus because the children get to play with her, and I know children love dogs.”

Fun facts about Officer Tiapula:

(1) What would be your superhero power? Flying; (2) Salty or sweet? Sweet; (3) Ocean or mountains? Ocean; (4) Favorite TV show to binge watch? Bob's Burgers; (5) Your hero? My father.

Visit RanchoCordovaPD.com for more information about the Youth Services Unit and to stay connected with RCPD.