By Amanda Theisen
Each year, hundreds of law enforcement officers from across Minnesota gather to patrol the grounds of the Minnesota State Fair. For 12 days, they respond to emergencies, interact with fairgoers and do everything possible to keep everyone’s experience at the Great Minnesota Get Together safe and enjoyable.
Among those officers, you’ll find Rick Vazquez, a mortgage loan officer for Sunrise Banks. Rick, who has worked in banking for more than 20 years, also serves as a reserve supervisor for the State Fair’s police department.
“When you’re at the Fair, you see officers from all over the metro and the state,” says Rick. “You get to know a variety of people and they get to know you.”
Law Enforcement Background
2024 marks Rick’s 11th year serving on the State Fair law enforcement staff. His time in law enforcement overlaps many of his years in the banking industry.
Rick got his start by joining the volunteer reserve program with the St. Paul Police Department. Those reserve officers can be found at major events, such as the Twin Cities Marathon, local parades or other festivals. “They are eyes and ears, more than anything,” says Rick.
While working at another local bank, Rick ran into a former high school classmate who worked with the St. Paul Police Department. He encouraged Rick to consider joining the force at the State Fairgrounds and even set up a meeting with Art Blakey, the Fair’s longtime police chief.
That meeting led to Rick working as a State Fair police reserve for a year, going through training and taking the test to get his official peace officer’s license.
Rick says the State Fair police department provided a huge benefit that new officers don’t often get when starting out – flexibility.
“Usually when you join a big city department, you start at the bottom and work the graveyard shift,” he says. “I wasn’t going to do that, so that’s why the Fair was a perfect fit. I’ve been doing that ever since.”
On Duty Beyond the Fair
You’ll find Rick on duty during a variety of events on the Fairgrounds, such as the Back to the 50s car show and horse shows. But of course, it’s the 12 days between late August and Labor Day that really gets him excited and energized.
Rick currently works as a State Fair reserve supervisor, overseeing a team of 40-50 reserve officers. He acts as the main point of contact between those reserves and a police coordinator in the department. He’ll do everything from give reserves a break to direct fairgoers to shelter in case of severe weather.
Like many Fair workers, Rick says his favorite aspect of the job is the people he meets.
“When you are on the fairgrounds with officers, a lot of people come up to you and thank you for what you’re doing,” he says. “That’s really positive that you can get that feedback from the general public.”
A Grand Performance
One of Rick’s most memorable moments at the Fair resulted in some unexpected time on the Grandstand stage.
As a hobby, Rick enjoys singing Mexican folk songs. Before a shift at the 2018 fair, Paul Paulos, the State Fair police chief at the time, asked Rick to sing for the officers at roll call. So, he got up and performed in front of about 50 officers. Jerry Hammer, the former longtime general manager of the State Fair, happened to be in the room and caught Rick’s performance.
Later that day, Hammer called Chief Paulos to ask if Rick could perform before the finals of the annual State Fair Talent Show. Rick didn’t hesitate and said he’d be honored to do so.
“I got up on the Grandstand and sang the same song as I did in roll call,” he says. “That was very memorable because I was up on the stage and the head of the fair was there. It was just fun!”
“You are Part of a Team”
Rick says he appreciates the flexibility to fit both his work at Sunrise Banks and at the State Fairgrounds into his life. Some years, Rick takes paid time off to work during the Fair. Other years, he’ll work evenings and weekends. He says his managers for both of his jobs are incredibly supportive.
Rick says over the years, he’s stayed in touch with many people he’s met at the Fair. He even travels with a couple of good friends he’s made.
“I’ve been able to meet some really interesting people and collaborate with many local and state officers,” he says. “The camaraderie is why I continue to do it. With that sense of brotherhood, you feel like you are part of a team.”
Amanda Theisen is the Communications Manager for Sunrise Banks.