Staff Spotlight: Sara Gangle

Sara Gangle, St. Cloud police officer and school resource officer for North Junior High School, Madison Elementary School and Lincoln Elementary School, did not originally plan for a career in law enforcement. Instead, she earned her degree in community psychology and chemical dependency.

Gangle worked in a psychiatric unit in South Dakota for a year before serving at a halfway house for adolescent girls back in Minnesota. While working there, she decided to return to St. Cloud State University to complete her master’s degree in probation work.

“It was then [completing her master’s] that I went out for a jog,” says Gangle, “and a police car went flying by with the lights and sirens on.” I thought, ‘Gosh, I wonder where they are going? What are they doing?’ I just told myself, ‘I don’t know why I’m going into probation. I should just be a cop.’ I’m nosy, and I want to know what’s going on.”

Right then, Gangle changed her career path. She met with her advisor to switch some courses and signed up for the skills course during the summer. Her first few years as an officer were in New Hope, Minnesota. Because it was a smaller agency, Gangle was involved in more aspects of police work. She became a D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) instructor in the local schools as well.

After three years, Gangle moved to St. Cloud where she worked patrol. Ironically, three years later, she applied to be a school resource officer. She discovered she was passionate about working with youth.

“As I was sitting in my interview [for the SRO position],” remembers Gangle, “I was talking about all the things I’d done prior to being in law enforcement. I taught swimming lessons. I was a coach. I worked at the Children’s Home for a bit. I had done so many things with kids, and it all of a sudden hit me like a ton of bricks. This is 100% my rhythm. This is where I need to be.”

Since then, she has worked hard at building great relationships with students. Every day she arrives before the students so she can follow up with students’ and families’ needs. Then she greets all the students coming to school.

 

Her days consist of talking to students, finding opportunities to build rapport and even teaching classes. Every year, she teaches KEYS (Knowledge and Education for Youth to Succeed) to sixth grade students. (KEYS is a modified version of D.A.R.E.) She also visits every classroom for various topics to have Q and A sessions with students. Recently, Gangle has also been involved with PRYSE (Promoting Resilient Youth through Support and Education), a curriculum for middle school and high school students. The program is voluntary and intended for students who have direct family members or close relatives who are incarcerated. It teaches students coping and communication skills and how to build a support group. It also teaches students that just because there is a struggle in their family, it doesn’t have to mean that it’s their path as well.

“Because of the uniqueness of my position,” explains Gangle, “I’m able to provide some comfort and be there [for these students].”

For distance learning students, Gangle created Cocoa with a Cop, a virtual meeting where students can login, hang out with her and ask questions about law enforcement. She even took them on a virtual tour of the police department.

Gangle truly wants students to realize that they can have positive relationships with police officers.

“Growing up, I had a school resource officer in my school,” says Gangle. “It happened shortly after the Columbine shooting. I didn’t have a great relationship with him. I didn’t know him, was … intimidated by him. Looking back now, I want to be everything outside of that. I want to be someone that is approachable, that kids can relate to and can come to me for anything.”

So far, it’s working.

One of the students Gangle has a positive relationship with is Tahasia Abston, sophomore at Apollo High School. The pair met while Abston attended North Junior High School.

“One day in school, she was just standing there,” remembers Abston. “We’d never had an officer in school before. At first, I thought, ‘Oh, I don’t like her. Why is she here?’ Mr. Tweh introduced us. I was a troublemaker, and I think that is why he introduced us. I was in the office one day, and I had to talk to her. We got real close after that.”

“She’s the person I felt in school was my cop-mom,” says Abston. “We have a really tight bond. She made sure I was doing all right, kept me on task and would take me to her office when I needed it to chill. She would teach me about the law. It was interesting. I wanted to become a cop.”

One of the ways Gangle strengthened their relationship was suggesting SCYLA (St. Cloud Youth Leadership Academy), a summer program, to Abston. SCYLA promotes building positive relationships and mentors youth through the St. Cloud Police Department.

“She wanted me to go there [SCYLA],” says Abston., “It’s very stern, but our class paid attention. She [Gangle] wanted me to go there because I had anger issues. She was there and helped calm me down. It was just a good, fun camp. It’s like boot camp, but just a little bit more fun.”

Though the two are no longer in the same building, they stay connected.

“I think differently about the police now because of her,” explains Abston. “I never really liked police. She was one of the people that changed my mindset. She’s loving, caring and kind. She keeps everybody safe.”

Gangle’s curved path led her directly to where she was supposed to be – working with students, developing positive relationships and even being a cop-mom when needed.

Fun Facts:

1. Gangle has two small boys.
2. She loves to run.
3. She is passionate about home decor and everything HGTV.
4. Gangle snowmobiles in the winter and enjoys being outdoors in the summer.
5. She always tells students that if they wonder what cops do, then they should be one.