State Police Profile JM grad

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(Richmond)- An outstanding feature done by Virginia State Police on Trooper Sarah Pemberton. She’s a James Monroe High School grad!

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In recognition of Women’s History Month, we are introducing you to a few of the women within Virginia State Police who are passionate about their profession and strive to make a positive impact on the communities they serve and protect across Virginia.

Having worked the road for the last three years, 26-year-old Trooper Sarah E. Pemberton recognizes that the law enforcement profession has its challenges. “Not everyone cares for us but I think everyone would agree that when a little kid comes up to you and is in complete awe of you and what you do; or when a stranger comes up and simply wants to shake our hand and say thank you ….that always motivates us to continue to do what we do.”

Engaging the public and reminding them that a law enforcement officer is there to help is important to Trooper Pemberton. Recently, she assisted with a crash investigation in King George County when she noticed a young child (who wasn’t hurt in the crash) coming towards her. “He walked over to me and gave me several high fives….I just wanted to check on him and see if I could get him to smile, to make sure he wasn’t scared…”

A graduate of James Monroe High School, Pemberton earned a Criminal Justice Degree from Longwood University. She interned with VSP as part of a requirement for graduation and quickly learned “during those five weeks, everyone I spoke with treated me like I was already a member of the VSP family, not like a student who was assigned to them as a chore.”

After college, she worked as a security officer while waiting to enter the VSP Training Academy. Eventually, she hopes to one day become a state police special agent with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). Right now, what she enjoys most about her career is “being able to be there for someone in need.”
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