My name is Juan Balderama. I’ve been a police officer for nine years, and I truly enjoy it. I grew up in a housing project in El Paso, Texas. We did not have much money growing up, and my mother signed me up for an assistance program through the El Paso Police Department. Through this program, police officers visited our neighborhood at Christmas and gave new shoes to all of the kids. I never forgot those officers, and I knew what I wanted to be.
My family moved to Oklahoma City in 1993 and when I turned 21 years old, I applied with the Oklahoma City Police Department. I became a police officer in 1999 and have taken advantage of every opportunity available.
I am a field training officer responsible for training our rookies. I’m a member of our Crisis Intervention Team, which assists the mentally ill. I’m a firearms instructor in our police academy. I’m part of our Bilingual Unit, whose members serve as translators for Spanish speakers in the community. Plus I’m on our department’s Tactical Unit, which has the tools and training for handling special operations.
My career is more rewarding, exciting, and fulfilling than I ever imagined. The salary and benefits are outstanding. I take pride in representing a police department, which has prepared, equipped, and molded me into the officer I am today. When I look back on my career, I cannot imagine doing anything else. It’s hard to believe it started with a free pair of shoes.
Learn more about the Oklahoma City Police Department at: http://www.okc.gov/okcpd/