After earning a degree in criminal justice and spending 14 months as a Community Service Officer, Faysal Geylani will begin the Metro Transit Police Department’s academy next week, the next step in his path to becoming a sworn police officer.
He does so with fresh affirmation that he’s answering a calling to serve his community.
In late January, Geylani was on patrol in downtown Minneapolis when a call went out about an unresponsive woman down at the Nicollet Mall Station.
The first to arrive on scene, Geylani said the woman wasn’t breathing and had only a slight pulse. He administered Narcan and performed CPR until medics and police officers arrived.
“I always knew in the back of my head that a call like this would come and that I’d need to be prepared for it,” he said.
Geylani’s actions likely saved the woman’s life. They also served a reminder of the powerful responsibilities he looks forward to assuming as a police officer. “This experience changed me forever and also affirmed my calling to become a police officer,” he said.
Geylani’s interest in law enforcement traces back to his three years as a bus operator out of Nicollet Garage.
In that role, he often interacted with Metro Transit police officers and came to admire how they interacted with his peers, riders, and the community.
After working in traffic enforcement and as a security officer, he returned to Metro Transit as a CSO because he could work a flexible schedule while earning his degree, get hands-on experience, and give back in a new way.
“Every job I’ve had has been community-driven, and I didn’t think there was any better place to start my career than here at Metro Transit,” he said.
Join our Community Service Officer Pathway Program
Interested in gaining experience while you earn your law enforcement degree? Apply for our Community Service Officer (CSO) Pathways Program, which provides participants tuition support and the chance to work part-time as a CSO. Learn more and apply at metrotransit.org/career-pathways.