05/16/2026
It is the honor of the Atwater Police Department to recognize our 2025 Officer of the Year recipient, Officer Roberto Vargas. A note from his supervisor...
Officer Vargas is no stranger to going above and beyond the call of duty.
In 2007, while serving in the United States Navy as an Aviation Machinist Mate, Vargas was deployed to the Gulf of Aden. During operations in Djibouti, his helicopter had landed when, through his keen attention to detail and professionalism, he identified a small fluid leak on the aircraft’s main rotor. What initially appeared minor was later determined to be a major mechanical failure waiting to happen. His actions that day likely prevented the loss of both the aircraft and her crew. For his exceptional performance, Vargas was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal and received a letter of recognition from the Admiral commanding his battle group.
Fast forward to this past year, and Officer Vargas has continued to exemplify the same level of dedication, compassion, and commitment to service here at the Atwater Police Department.
Officer Vargas was commended by the California Highway Patrol for his selfless actions in consoling a grief-stricken family at the scene of a double fatal traffic collision.
In another incident, Officer Vargas responded to a commercial burglary call and, after arriving first on scene, intercepted a fleeing suspect attempting to escape with approximately $5,000 worth of stolen tools.
On one exceptionally difficult night — one that would challenge any law enforcement officer — Officer Vargas responded to a medical emergency at the beginning of his shift. Through quick action and decisive intervention, he successfully performed the Heimlich maneuver on an unresponsive subject, restoring the individual’s pulse.
Later that same shift, Officer Vargas responded to a fatal collision involving a bicyclist he had personally spoken with only hours earlier. A paramedic who worked both incidents later reached out to me by email to commend Officer Vargas for the compassion, humility, and professionalism he demonstrated throughout both calls.
In addition to his compassion and service to the community, Officer Vargas is also exceptionally proactive in his enforcement efforts. It is not uncommon for him to complete multiple bookings at the county jail in a single night. In fact, his arrests are so frequent that jail staff often jokingly ask him if he can park somewhere for a while just to give them a break.
Officer Vargas represents the very best of this profession. His dedication to duty, commitment to the community, compassion for others, and relentless work ethic make him highly deserving of this recognition.
