Officer John Mohamed displays a Carmichael Park District service award. Fans include his fiancée, Denise Ulm (in pink), and rocker Todd Morgan (right, with guitar). Photo by Susan Maxwell Skinner

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Work has not been a 13-year walk in the park for Ranger John Mohamed.

“I love being in the fresh air among people who are enjoying our parks,” said the retiring Fulton-El Camino Park Police Department (FECPD) Ranger. “But parks were my workplace, I was there on duty, helping to make people feel safe.”

Last Friday’s Carmichael Park concert, a packed performance by rocker Todd Morgan, was Mohamed’s final public shift before handing in his radio and keys.

“Yes, I’m going to miss the job,” Mohamed said.

The evening was punctuated by a farewell presentation, hundreds of handshakes and many dance requests.

“Most of all, I’m going to miss these people,” Mohamed added. “Wherever I go someone recognizes me and calls me by name. That makes me feel like the community knows I’ve served them.”

Park ranger John Mohamed greets concert crowds during his farewell Carmichael Park shift. Photo by Susan Maxwell Skinner 

It has been a big community: Fulton-El Camino Park Police Department officers work under contract for many park districts. Over career years, Mohamed was a familiar figure in Carmichael, Mission Oaks, Arden Manor, Fair Oaks, Orangevale, Sunrise, North Highlands, Arcade Creek and Rio Linda. He subdued the unruly, returned lost kids and helped the disabled.

Concert-goers recently saw him advise a woman not to boogie among concert dancers with a live python.

“You need a permit to bring any animal, other than a cat or a dog, to the park,” Mohamed said. To the relief of many dancers, the snake charmer exited.

Although armed and uniformed, the son of Sacramento building legend Joseph Mohamed, Sr. was no killjoy. He usually acquiesced to dance requests.

“Just don’t call me the dancing deputy,” Mohamed warned fans. “You’ll get me in trouble with the Sheriff. I’m a park ranger.”

Mohamed believes his dancing, among other activities, put a regular person’s face on a police officer.

“Walking around and shaking hands shows people we’re the same as them,” Mohamed reflected.  “We’re not the mean guys. We’re safe to be around.”

One of four kids, Mohamed graduated from Mira Loma High School and then studied business at American River College. Mohamed was an Army drill sergeant at Fort Ord before stepping into another family tradition: construction work. Mohamed is still a general contractor, a certified property appraiser and he operates his own real estate brokerage.

Volunteering for years in the Drowning and Accident Rescue Team (DART), brought Mohamed in contact with many first responders.

Carmichael Park District recognizes park ranger John Mohamed’s service during the final performance of the 2024 concert season. Volunteers Susan Skinner, left, and Rosie Buck are also applauded for concert support. Photo courtesy of Carmichael Recreation and Park District

“My friend, Bob Erickson, then chief of police for Fulton El Camino Park District, encouraged me to train as a park ranger,” Mohamed said.  “When I passed all my tests, he hired me.”

Mohamed estimates he has served 8,000 hours of duty over 13 years.

“It’s been a rewarding career with daily returns,” Mohamed said. “Few people know that I carried a box of socks in my patrol vehicle, along with McDonald's gift cards, bottled water, first aid and hygiene items that I bought from my own funds. They were for people in need.

“As a ranger, you see people’s needs. Open wounds, wet shoes, dirty clothes, sunburn,” Mohamed said. “The back of my vehicle was like a drug store. I also carried an unlock kit (for when keys got locked in cars) and a jumper box for dead batteries. It’s been my duty to be as helpful as possible.”

Sometimes, help went beyond duty: Mohamed was last year awarded a State of California medal of valor. He rescued a man from a burning Madison Avenue building and then re-entered the inferno in search of more occupants.

Playing at the Sacramento Softball Complex, Mohamed revived a rival player from cardiac arrest. Mohamed applied the Heimlich maneuver to save a choking concert attendee. His Silver Star medal for distinguished service resulted from securing an active crime scene where a fellow officer was mortally wounded. Fulton El Camino Park Police have twice named him Officer of the Year.

Guinevere Mitchell, 6, cuts a rug with the retiring ranger. Photo by Susan Maxwell Skinner

“Officers don’t do what we do for glory,” Mohamed said. “Our rewards are in seeing safer neighborhoods and public confidence in us. We want people to believe we’re there for them; that we have their best interests at heart. I thank the fantastic training I’ve had for whatever I’ve achieved.”

Retirement plans include teaching continuing education for law officers. He also hopes to sell a house or two. Travel, with his fiancée, Denise Ulm, is anticipated.

“I’ll miss my fellow officers,” Mohamed said. “I’ll miss my interaction with the public and the feeling at the end of a day that I’d accomplished something meaningful. I’ll still go to concerts. It’ll be much easier to dance without body armor.”