How would you like to be pulled over by Shaquille O’Neal?
One of the most recognizable names in sports, Shaquille O’Neal, had a nineteen-year career in the NBA. We also know him as a basketball commentator and from his many television commercials.
Courtesy Daily Mail
Those are just three of Shaq’s many endeavors. He’s also an investor (e.g., Papa John’s Pizza) and an actor (e.g., Blue Chips from Paramount Pictures, 1994, with Nick Nolte). But I’ll be that few of you know that Shaq once trained to become a police officer.
He trained with the LAPD at Los Angeles County’s Reserve Academy during his Lakers’ playing days. His goal? It was to work with the Los Angeles Port Police.
After training, Shaq was named a U.S. Deputy Marshall, which made him eligible to work as a reserve officer. With that designation, one of Shaq’s childhood dreams (to be a cop) came true. And he extended that dream after he left LA to play for the Miami Heat. He was sworn in as a deputy in South Florida but then had to pass all the regular tests to qualify as an officer. Shaq did just that.
A person of many talents, it will be interesting to see which adventure comes next.
I knew about Shaq wanting to be a cop. However, I didn’t know he trained back when he was in LA. I love it. Thank you Matthew Paris for bringing this info out. Great article!