Page 20 - Rana Sampson Issue (1)

Rana Sampson

By Judith A. Habert
Photos by Lisa K. Miller

I was honored to be introduced to Rana Sampson several years epitomized her beliefs. “I felt like New York had done so much for
ago by a mutual friend who couldn’t say enough positive things me and had offered me so many great things as a child growing up
about this woman. After meeting her I knew instantly that she was there that I knew I wanted to give back.” These feelings translated
even more amazing then I was told. Rana is by far one of the most into a desire to become either a firefighter or a police officer. Since
caring and compassionate individuals that I have had the pleasure the police exam was imminent, she took the exam, passed, and
of meeting. Being the “First Lady of San Diego”, married to our started her journey as a New York City cop. Working in the areas of
esteemed mayor Jerry Sanders, would be, for most women, a full Bushwick, Williamsburg, and Bedford Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, then
time job. This is not the case for Rana; she is very much her own moving to Manhattan and being assigned to precincts in Harlem
woman and a force to be reckoned with. She has dedicated much and the Lower East Side, gave Rana a chance to face some of the
of her time to helping increase the chance that some very special toughest challenges for a New York City Police officer. Her talents
San Diego children survive their personal struggles and enjoy a were soon recognized as she moved through the ranks working foot
relatively “normal” childhood. Walking with her through her second patrol, moving on to car patrol and then working as an undercover
home, the San Diego Center for Children (where she is the Senior narcotics officer. It wasn’t long before she was promoted to Ser-
geant at the precinct
made famous on
the long running TV
series, NYPD Blue.
“It was a great experi-
ence that I would not
trade for anything,”
adds Rana.
It was Rana’s desire
for continuing growth
through lifelong
learning that led her
away from her 6 year
position as a police
officer. “I developed
20 a real passion for the
challenge of polic-
ing in a democratic
society and I felt that
attending law school
would help me be
even more effec-
tive in this arena.”
Her next step in her
career path led her
to Harvard where
she earned her law
degree, graduating
with honors. Upon
Director of Development and Marketing), it is heartwarming to graduation Rana knew she wanted to remain in the policing field,
notice the children light up when they see her pass by. She knows but felt if she worked in a law firm for a short time she could pay off
every one of them by their first name and shares several hugs all her law school loans. She knew she couldn’t stay away from the
along the way. It is quite obvious to onlookers that Rana loves her law enforcement field for very long and was thrilled to accept a job
current career choice, but what is more surprising is the road that working for a national police think tank in Washington D.C. In this
led her to where she is today. position she traveled across the country working with police depart-
Rana was born and raised in New York where she attended public ments on issues of crime reduction and others related to demo-
school in the Borough Park, Bensonhurst, and Coney Island cratic policing. “One of the hallmarks of policing in the US is that
neighborhoods of Brooklyn. A New Yorker to her core, she went in many other nations the police are totalitarian forces put in place
on to attend Columbia University where she earned her bachelor’s to help support repressive regimes. We are very fortunate that
degree in American History. After graduation she received a fel- we don’t have that in this country. Here, it is the role of our police
lowship to work in New York City government. She remained in forces to be not only brawn but brains. A major aspect of the police
that position for a year until she was hired by the mayor’s office to function is to safeguard our constitutional rights while reducing
work in community development. The climate in New York started crime. This requires real talent to accomplish.” This was Rana’s
to change, arson and crime seemed to be rising exponentially, main focus. She was called upon to help implement a model of
and Rana watched believing that there must be something she policing which would reduce crime and increase the connection
could do to help her hometown. At this young age she had already between the police force and the people they served.
developed her caring nature which led her to select a career that Several years later, a former administrator at Rana’s college, as
March/April 2011