Shaq looks to continue law enforcement sideline in Cleveland

CLEVELAND — Shaquille O’Neal is looking to continue a sideline career in law enforcement now that he’s in Ohio playing for the Cavaliers.

Records obtained by The Plain Dealer newspaper of Cleveland show the county sheriff wants to make the Cavs center a special deputy, with the right to carry a gun and make arrests. However, O’Neal would not be a paid, formal employee of the sheriff’s department.

He previously served roles with law enforcement agencies in Arizona, Virginia and Florida.

The Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy is considering the request to deputize O’Neal. Holly Hollingsworth, a spokeswoman for the Ohio Attorney General, says if O’Neal is approved he’d have six months to undergo 36 hours of police training and would have to take the Ohio police exam.