(The Toronto Sun ) -- Sheriff Shaq?
The towering Los Angeles Lakers centre has lofty law enforcement aspirations and has even started taking special classes to be part of a police reserve force that patrols the area’s ports.
“I just have a love for policemen because they’ve always been the real heroes in my life,” Shaquille O’Neal told the Los Angeles Daily News in a recent interview.
“I would like to have a leadership role.”
O’Neal, 29, is attending classes offered by the county’s Sheriff’s Department for harbour patrol duty. The 7-foot-1, 315-pounder even has a custom uniform and size 22EEE boots. Law enforcement officials know they have a potential recruiting spokesman in the charismatic NBA superstar but say O’Neal has not asked for special privileges.
Law enforcement agencies have been smitten with O’Neal. Oxnard police offered to buy him a custom Lincoln Navigator if he would wear their uniform. And, the Orange County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Department in Orlando has made O’Neal an honorary deputy.
Most departments agree they would love to have the NBA star on their force.
“He would definitely make an imposing officer,” said Orange County (Fla.) Sheriff’s spokesman Jim Solomons. “I’d love to see Shaq be the first through the door on a drug warrant.”