Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought our family would be a family of Police Officers.  My father was a police officer when I was very young and only for a short while.  It was my father’s dream to be a cop.  He went to college and then joined the Army where he served in Okinawa, Japan, during the Vietnam war era, as a dog handler for the military police.  When he was discharged he started looking for a job with a police department.  Mom and Dad lived in a small town in Southern California.  Dad applied to the LAPD and passed everything except the height requirement, he was 1/4 inch too short.  Today’s police departments aren’t looking for white men with military experience that are 5′-10″, but that was a different time in our history.  Dad didn’t let that deter him.  He applied for the Rialto Police Department and was accepted.  Our family grew as his career was just getting off the ground.  It was during this time that he chose family over his dream of being a police officer.  Dad knew the hours and pay were not conducive to a young wife and family so he resigned and took a job with Sears Roebuck and Co.  His decision put us on a path to a better life in a growing city, San Jose California.  I often reflect on my father’s sacrifice and how my life could have been so different if he had not chosen us over Rialto.  That’s what fathers do though, they choose family over themselves.

We grew up in the outskirts of town.  We were in the “boonies”.  We weren’t ever without.  Mom watched all the kids in the neighborhood so she could be with us during the day.  And dad went to work early so he could get home and be with us in the evening.  Dad coached our soccer, baseball and football teams and mom ran the snack bar and generally kept us all on schedule.  They were a great team and I am better for it.

Over the years I was involved in activities that were reminiscent of “policing”.  I worked as an umpire and as a referee as a child, striving to keep things fair for both teams.  I was the Captain of the Safety Patrol at my elementary school, trying to keep the students safe.  Through my youth I gravitated to positions like these.  Something was calling me and I didn’t even know it at the time.  Later in life while working at Walgreens I watched as two people put bottles of liquor under their coats and walk out.  I couldn’t help myself, so I gave chase.  I eventually tackled one and recovered the bottle he took.  Later as a TV salesman at a department store I watched a person take a portable TV while I was busy.  By the time I caught up to him, he was outside and running through the parking lot.  I got him and the TV.  It was then that I decided to try Loss Prevention for the department store.  I did very well and was transferred to a busier location where I began to meet San Jose Police Officers who would come to accept my arrests.  Eventually I was talk into applying for the San Jose Police Reserve Unit.  From there I knew I was called to be a full time Police Officer and to serve my community.  Just as I was leaving the department store for the Police Academy I met a girl, who became my wife, and then the mother of our son.  She became a teacher and I was a cop.  And we had a wonderful son to raise.

My career lasted nearly 23 years until I was retired for medical reasons.  During that time I coached my son’s baseball and soccer teams and his mom kept us and our team organized and on schedule.  My son grew up before our eyes and as my career was ending my son was finishing high school.

Throughout my son’s life he was a good student and a caring and compassionate person.  He earned a full ride academic scholarship to Santa Clara University.  He excelled in academics and friendships in college.  He graduated on time and I fully expected him to become a teacher like his mother or work at a tech company with his new degree in Computer Graphic Design.  My son chose to serve his community as a Police Officer.  We are pictured with my father at my son’s graduation from the San Jose Police Department Academy.

What started as my father’s dream, a dream to serve his community, grew into three generations of Police Officers.  A family of cops.  A proud father and grandfather.  A legacy of service to our local communities, our state and our country.  I asked my son why he chose to serve and he said, “just like you dad, it’s my calling.”

There is no greater calling, than a call to serve your fellow man.

Thank you dad, for your service.

Thank you for your service son, love dad.