Carlos Baires Escobar didn’t start college at the University
of St. Thomas [UST] with the intention of becoming a police officer. But when
the El Salvador native joined the security staff as a bilingual officer, he rose
through the ranks and ultimately landed a full-time job with the UST Public
Safety Department.
Currently, he is pursuing a master’s degree in software systems from St. Thomas, co-owns a security firm, Talon Investigation, which serves Latino special events, and works as a community service officer for the Minneapolis Police Department. There, he volunteers with the Police Activities League organizing outings and sports for children, and the Police Explorers, a training program for children interested in law enforcement. Playing soccer, painting water colors, and sketching are some of Baires Escobar’s other interests.
Ultimately, he would like to become a police officer. “There is a big demand for representation from the Latino community from someone who knows what the problems are and how to come up with solutions,” he says. “At the same time, I owe it to the community because there is a need for police officers who understand where we come from and our culture.”
Baires Escobar aims to continue growing Talon while also retaining the company’s personal approach with clients. In all aspects of his life, he carries with him the optimism and hard-working nature of his mother and grandmother, who taught him to never give up on his dreams.
