Shaquille O'Neal Puts on Police Badge

[JamieC]

When Shaquille O’Neal moved from Los Angeles to Miami he didn't trade just basketball jerseys, he also got a new get up for his second job -- as a cop.

The diesel has become a member of the Miami Beach police force. Even though his new team is in the thick of the play-offs, Shaq recently spent several hours with Miami Beach investigators assisting them with cases.

And not only that, but Shaq just became part of a federal task force that cracks down on sexual predators who target children on the Internet. That's right: Shaq is going undercover and using his home computer to target the bad guys. Over the summer, he’ll even fly to a secret location to help bust some predators.

"One day I’m going to have to stop playing basketball. I don't want to be like everyone else," Shaq told "CJ" after graduating from the police academy in LA back in 2003, when he became a reserve officer for the Port Police. "I don't want to go sit in a studio and talk about young players. Talk about what I used to do and talk about this and that. I would like to see myself in a leadership position in law enforcement."

But don’t think his celebrity got Shaq a free ride. He had to pay his dues like everybody else by completing a thousand hours of training (now you know how spent the off-season). "I wanted to go to the academy be a rookie," Shaq told us. "Work the graveyard shift. Clean the locker room, get maced. Write papers so the troops understand I’ve done what they've done."

And Shaq also wrote some checks: when two LAPD patrol cars got torched after the Lakers won 2000 title, he gave more than $40,000 to help cover the costs.
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*I didn't know he completed the police academy*

http://celebrityjustice.warnerbros.c.../0505/26b.html

[DBlack]

I can think of a ton of better things to do with my time as a multimillionare, but who am I to criticse; at least he wants to make some type of difference.

Shaq has been 'giving back' in so many ways, my distrust and dislike of police must take a backseat to his history of goodwill.

[Lonewolf]

I think it's cool. It shows he cares to some degree, because he most certainly doesn't have to do it.

[jimihaze]

well his help is much needed with what is going on here in florida with all these sexual predators running around down here.

[Corals]

Watch It! Shaq Now Carries a Badge

Fri Dec 9, 6:59 PM ET

Look out criminals, Officer Shaq is on the beat. Shaquille O'Neal was sworn in as a reserve police officer Thursday, with the Miami Heat center choosing to skip a public event in favor of a quiet, no-frills ceremony.

"Officer O'Neal is very considerate toward the other officers, and he was afraid if he was there he would have taken away from that moment for other officers," department spokesman Robert Hernandez said. "This is a very special time for them and their families."

The former Laker was a reserve officer in Los Angeles before moving to South Florida. He spent the past year training as a Miami Beach police reserve officer and can now add the $1-a-year salary to his $100 million, 5-year contract with the Heat.

The 7-foot-1 player will be able to carry a gun, wear a badge and make arrests, but with his celebrity status he most likely will not walk a beat or go undercover. He will work as time permits in the volunteer position.

O'Neal has said he is most interested in working with the special victims detective unit to help stop crimes against children.

"He made it clear when he decided to come to Miami Beach that he didn't want to just be a poster boy for photo ops, he wanted to get down and dirty and do the job," Hernandez said. "He's here to conduct investigations and to make arrests."

And in September he did just that. After seeing a man throw a bottle and yell anti-gay slurs at a passer-by, O'Neal trailed the man and helped an officer arrest him as a hate-crime suspect.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051209/...N5bnN1YmNhdA--
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What a contrast.

[saraphen]

We saw the big guy doing this back in the spring.

Shaquille O'Neal Puts on Police Badge

[MochaLove37]

Originally Posted by saraphen

We saw the big guy doing this back in the spring.

Shaquille O'Neal Puts on Police Badge

I saw this on TV a few days ago though so are they late with the story.

[Corals]

...and his wife is thinking of opening up a school. I hope it is not a police academy. :D :D

[MochaLove37]

Originally Posted by Corals

...and his wife is thinking of opening up a school. I hope it is not a police academy. :D :D

LOL u silly. Good for her for looking into higher education.

[JamieC]

Originally Posted by Corals

...and his wife is thinking of opening up a school. I hope it is not a police academy. :D :D

No.. it's not.. There's a thread regarding their school dated November 22, 2005 here in GoaLine.