Years Before Becoming a Police Officer, Lakers Legend Shaquille O’Neal Helped Cops Make an Arrest Against Homophobia

Published 09/19/2022, 10:30 AM EDT

Four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal has probably made more impact off the court than he did on it. The legendary center is undoubtedly one of the greatest ever to play the game. It would have taken a whole lot for someone as successful as O’Neal to outdo what he achieved on the basketball court. However, the big man was up for it.

The 15-time All-Star is one of the most likable personalities in the world right now. While he used to intimidate people with his size during his playing days, Shaq has only gone on to become a beloved celebrity. The 7’1″ giant once helped the police make an arrest during his Miami Heat days.

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In 2005, he helped the police by trailing a man who allegedly yelled anti-gay slurs at a couple before alerting an officer. The accused also reportedly threw a bottle at them before fleeing off.

Although the bottle hit one of the pedestrians, it didn’t cause any serious damage. Shaquille O’Neal proceeded to follow the car and informed an officer who eventually arrested the man. After this incident, the Miami Beach Police made O’Neal an honorary police officer. He earned $1 annually for his role with Miami Beach.

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O’Neal said, “For this incident, I don’t want to be credited as an individual who does police work. I want to be credited as a Miami Beach police officer.”

Shaquille O’Neal became a reserve police officer

The Los Angeles Lakers legend’s wish of becoming a police officer came true in 2015 when he was sworn in as a reserve police officer in South Florida. He had previously served as a reserve police officer for Miami Beach and Golden Beach in Florida.

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However, this wasn’t the end of it for O’Neal. In 2019, Shaq became an honorary deputy by the Broward County Sheriff’s office. There have been many incidents over the years where Shaq has helped complete strangers. His philanthropic activities are well documented as well.

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O’Neal is certainly a gift that keeps on giving. From his role as an analyst for NBA on TNT to his weekly podcast, the former MVP always stays in the news.

What do you think of Shaq as a reserve police officer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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Written by:

Pragya is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. Having completed Masters in Sports Management from the International Institute of Sports Management, Mumbai, he has been a passionate fan of the NBA since 2010. Pragya is a massive supporter of LeBron James and just wants to enjoy the twilight years of his Hall of Fame career.

Edited by:

Veer Badani

Years Before Becoming a Police Officer, Lakers Legend Shaquille O’Neal Helped Cops Make an Arrest Against Homophobia

Shaquille O’Neal became a reserve police officer

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