NBA Star O'Neal to Be 'Officer Shaq'
Fri Jul 12, 2:34 PM ET
By The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) - First came his third-consecutive NBA championship, then plans to produce a TV drama. Now Shaquille O'Neal wants to be a police officer.
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Shaquille O'Neal
O'Neal has been designated a second-class reserve officer by the police department of the Port of Los Angeles, the Daily Breeze reported Thursday.
The 30-year-old Los Angeles Lakers center has said he may consider a career in law enforcement when he retires from basketball.
This week, the entertainment trade newspaper Variety reported he's also met with executives from the major networks to pitch a one-hour drama that he would executive produce.
The basketball star — who has also acted movies including "Kazaam" and recorded rap albums such as "Shaq Diesel" — has completed enough training to fight crime with senior officers and carry a gun.
"He can now ride as a second man in a port police car — not that he can fit in it," city councilwoman Janice Hahn said about the 7-foot-1-inch, 350-pound athlete.
O'Neal's work with the department also is considered a good recruitment tool for new officers, she added.
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Now don't be calling 911 every night requesting DIESEL, ok?
