I am originally from Mobile, AL and joined the Marine Corps in 1988 and served for 13 years in various duty stations including a combat tour during the Gulf War Desert Shield/Desert Stormin 1990/1991. I met my wife Robin in the Marine Corps on the rifle range and it was love at 1st sight. I had always wanted to be in law enforcement as a kid like my Grandfather and joined the Onslow County Sheriffs office North Carolina in 2003 as a patrol deputy and have served since for 20 years. I have also served at North Topsail Beach PD as a police officer in NC. My wife retired from the Marine Corps and we moved to St Tammany parish after she took a job with a federal agency in 2016 where I started working for the St Tammany Sheriff’s Office on patrol. I decided to move to the School Resource Officer program in Nov 2018 and was assigned to Christ Episcopal School. I loved patrol and still do but the feeling of helping kids and protecting them daily has been my love since working as a SRO. The bond I build with each kid brings joy to my heart and couldn’t ask for a better position or school to work at.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
We are a Marine Corps military family and have 3 sons and a daughter. She will be attending LSU in the fall this year. One of our sons is in law enforcement and another in the Army. Our oldest son lives in Alaska
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
Have served 20 years in law enforcement and 13 years in Marine Corps including a combat tour during the Gulf War in 1990/1991. Love the feeing of helping those who need help and teaching kids that we care about them no matter what walk of life they come from.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
We love several restaurants and different foods but a few favorite places Keith Young’s, El Paso and Chimes.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
7 years.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
I would have to say Luke Bertel a former Christ Episcopal school student who was fighting cancer in the 5th grade. We became close and still stay in touch with the family.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
El Torino with Clint Eastwood and all Marvel movies. Love watching cartoons anything that makes you laugh.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Treat people like you want to be treated with respect and kindness.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Luke Bertel anywhere that serves great pizza.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
The seafood and history.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Retired from law enforcement and being my wife’s bodyguard and chauffeur to work.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
That I originally wanted to be a preacher and math teacher.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
My family and the kids at Christ Episcopal.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My Grandfather who passed away while I was in the Marine Corps. I wanted to serve in the military and law enforcement like he did. And my wife of course.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
My comfort zone
