When This Phoenix Police Sergeant Needs Back-Up

Press release from the City of Phoenix:

May 10, 2020

"The dispatcher-officer relationship is very special," Karma Perreira, a Phoenix Police Communications Supervisor, said. "It's almost brother-sister like."

But this dispatcher-officer relationship, one might agree, is even more special than that.

Francis Perreira and his mom Karma Perreira are both employees of the Phoenix Police Department. Francis is a sergeant in the Gang Enforcement Unit, coming up on 14 years of service. Karma is a communications supervisor with 28 years.

"I don't think I could do your guys' job," Francis said. "I really don't."

Over the years, the two have worked together. Karma, supervising 911 and dispatch while Francis patrols the streets.

Francis says when they worked together, his mom would send him messages over the radio like 'speak up' when Francis would mumble, and I love you, or be safe. Karma said it's a unique experience to work with your son in this kind of job.

"If anything happened, I would always be the first to know," Karma said. "I have empathy for mother's who see news flashes and wonder who is involved. Well, I knew who was involved. So I always felt relief. And he's always stayed safe for me."

Letting kids go into the real world may be one of the hardest jobs of motherhood. Karma said that's been no different here.

"They see things that no mother wants her children to know about life," Karma explained. "It's the end of innocence."

Karma and her husband, also a former Phoenix Police officer, didn't want Francis to go into police work at first. But there was no stopping him. As soon as he got his college degree, he went into the academy, on to patrol, and on the gang squad.

And every step of the way has been under the watchful and loving eye, and ear, of mom.

"As a mom, she did everything for me growing up," Francis said. "She was there for the sports, the discipline, all that kind of stuff. So my mom did everything for me. And of course I'm very grateful for that. But also, she's helped me through my career too, and given me advice and made sure I stayed safe so, thanks."

This press release was produced by the City of Phoenix. The views expressed here are the author’s own.