Trading in their camos for police blue is a natural step for many military veterans, who are often coveted by law enforcement for their advanced training.
As the nation honors its more than 23 million military veterans today, it is also honoring many in local police departments, including that of Columbus, which employs well over 10 veterans.
For Patrolman Greg Harstad, former a Air Force colonel, both jobs are about service, either to the country or to the community.
“It”s the same feeling of accomplishment, the feeling of keeping people safe,” he said.
“Here,” he added,” every day”s a mission.”
Military training comes in especially handy at the department, said Patrolman Stephen Kemp, who served in Iraq in 2004 and 2005 with the Army.
“You were trained to make the correct split-second decision,” he continued. “Military and law enforcement go hand in hand.”
And, like in the military, practice makes perfect, said Criminal Investigator Natashea Coleman-Brown, who served in Iraq with the National Guard.
While the training is different, Kemp said the goal is the same.
“You win the hearts and minds overseas,” he said. “You try to do the same thing here.”
Maintaining the support of the community is especially important to officers, who are under constant scrutiny, Harstad said.
“Every day we go out there, someone”s looking at us,” he continued. “Every time we leave the (squad) car, we”re evaluated.”
Although the demands are different, the veterans at the Columbus Police Department said their job satisfaction is high.
Coleman-Brown works as a police officer because she knows her family is proud of her, both for her service to the city and the country, she said.
“You can”t replace that feeling,” she added. “It”s worth more than money to me – it”s not just a job.”
As jobs go, policing is the natural choice for many veterans back from Iraq looking for employment. A quick search of police-related jobs at VetSuccess.gov brings up more than 200 results.
However, many ex-soldiers do not apply for jobs with the department because they think they lack the proper background, Harstad said.
But even without combat experience, former military personnel are good fodder for officers, he said.
“You”ve got the maturity, the discipline, the department is looking for,” he said, encouraging veterans to apply.
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