Sheriff Shaq? Not Yet, in Ohio
After a promising start to his law enforcement career in Miami and Phoenix, Shaquille O’Neal is looking to forward his off-the-court law enforcement training in Cleveland while he’s a member of the Cavaliers this year.
But the Cleveland Plain Dealer broke the news on Sunday that O’Neal has some work to do before he joins the law enforcement ranks – he must pass an examination and undergo 30 hours of training first.
“It appears that Mr. O’Neal will need to undergo substantial additional training as well as successful completion of the state certification examination before he can become a certified peace officer in the state of Ohio,” said Holly Hollingsworth, spokeswoman for the state attorney general.
If Shaq does complete the police training and pass the Ohio police exam and a shooting test, he’d be able to carry a gun around and make arrests. Currently, he is not authorized to do either.
Cuyahoga County Sheriff Bob Reid notified the state academy that he’d make O’Neal a deputy officer if he passes the examinations.
Shaq wants to work with the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children task force, according to Reid.
