At around 3 a.m. on a September night in 2005, Shaquille O’Neal was driving through Miami Beach when he saw a glass bottle thrown at two men walking hand-in-hand. The attack came with anti-gay slurs, and one of the men was struck in the back.

Shaq was not just another passerby. He was undergoing reserve training with the Miami Beach Police Department at the time. According to reporting from the Miami New Times, he followed the vehicle, contacted police dispatch, identified himself as “Deputy O’Neal,” and helped officers locate the suspect. After the arrest, he found the victims to tell them the attackers had been caught.

One of those men, Mark Shawley, later recalled the unusual encounter. “Unbeknownst to us, someone saw the car and was following it. That person contacted Miami Beach Police and said, ‘This is Deputy O’Neal. I’m following a car whose passengers just attacked two people.’ And Shaq detained them… He comes over to us, and we were both sort of emotional. He asks Jeff, ‘What’s your name?’ and Jeff tells him, and then he says, ‘I want you to know they caught those guys.’”

That story is worth remembering because, more than two decades later, O’Neal has received another law-enforcement title. On September 17, 2026, FBI Director Kash Patel recognized the NBA legend as an honorary FBI Special Agent during the graduation ceremony for Session 299 of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Patel announced the honor while congratulating the 265 law-enforcement officials graduating from the session.

“Congratulations to our newest session of FBI National Academy graduates session 299 – represented by 265 law enforcement officials from around the country. This session is historic – FBI was honored to be joined by one of the best supporters of law enforcement in the country – @Shaq – who graduated with this session and became an honorary FBI Special Agent.”

The distinction matters: Shaq did not become a working FBI agent. The designation is honorary, and he did not complete the National Academy’s standard 10-week curriculum alongside the graduating law-enforcement officers. But the ceremony still adds an unusual new chapter to a side of O’Neal’s life that began long before his NBA retirement.

Shaq Was Training to Become a Reserve Officer While Still Playing

For most fans, Shaq’s basketball résumé is the familiar one: four championships, a league MVP, three Finals MVP awards, and a place in the Hall of Fame. His law-enforcement history, however, began while he was still one of the biggest stars in the sport.

During his Lakers years, O’Neal enrolled in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Reserve Academy. The training took place over several years, with O’Neal completing the required work during off-seasons and late evenings. He eventually earned reserve-officer status with the Los Angeles Port Police in 2002.

That detail changes the way his latest honor looks. This was not simply a famous athlete accepting a badge at a ceremony. Shaq had already spent years working toward actual law-enforcement credentials while balancing an NBA career.

The commitment was not a quick side project, either. In a later discussion about police training, O’Neal said:

“It actually took me 5 to 7 years to graduate from the LA Sheriff’s Academy.”

His interest also had a personal root. Shaq has often spoken about the influence of his stepfather, Philip Harrison, a U.S. Army sergeant who helped shape his upbringing and his respect for uniformed service.

But Los Angeles was only the beginning. After moving to Miami, O’Neal continued pursuing reserve work.

From Miami Beach to Doral, Shaq Kept the Badge in His Life

On December 8, 2005, shortly after joining the Miami Heat, O’Neal was sworn in as a reserve officer with the Miami Beach Police Department. His personnel file and contemporary reporting documented the appointment and the training he completed.

His involvement with law enforcement continued in other places over the years. He served as a reserve deputy with the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia in 2006 and later became a reserve officer with the Tempe Police Department while playing for the Phoenix Suns. In January 2015, he was sworn in as a reserve officer with the Doral Police Department in Florida.

The Doral appointment also revealed that Shaq had ambitions beyond simply wearing a uniform. Speaking to the Miami Herald after being sworn in, he discussed the possibility of eventually pursuing a leadership role in law enforcement.

“When it’s all said and done… in either Orange County, Dade County or Broward. But, I have to work from the ground up first. [Chief De Lucca]’s a great leader. I’m learning from him, watching him. He’s a good friend of mine, and in order to become a great leader, you have to master their style and then create your own style.”

That quote is revealing because it shows how O’Neal viewed the work. Even while discussing long-term ambitions, he described learning from experienced officers and building his way up rather than treating his fame as a shortcut.

His law-enforcement affiliations later extended to Georgia and Louisiana, including a 2016 swearing-in as a deputy with the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office and a 2020 reserve-deputy role with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Still, the most visible part of his public-safety work in recent years has come through community relations.

His Role in Georgia Turned the Interest Into Community Work

In 2021, Shaq joined the Henry County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia as Director of Community Relations. On Christmas Day 2025, Sheriff Reginald B. Scandrett promoted him to Chief of Community Relations during a live ESPN broadcast.

The title is not Chief of Police. It is a community-outreach leadership role, focused on building relationships between the sheriff’s office and local residents.

According to figures released by the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, O’Neal organized or supported more than 370 community outreach events between 2021 and 2025. Those efforts reportedly produced more than 42,000 interactions between deputies and residents. His work also included holiday campaigns that distributed thousands of meals and more than 15,000 toys to families in need.

Programs such as Shaq-a-Claus, Shop With a Deputy, and Ride4Unity gave him ways to connect his public profile with the sheriff’s office’s community efforts. He also supported initiatives involving youth outreach, officer support, and assistance for families facing emergencies.

And Shaq has not limited his involvement to formal titles. One of his most memorable recent examples involved a young man who was trying to earn a badge of his own.

Shaq Helped a 7-Foot-3 Recruit Get Back on Track

Jordan Wilmore, a 24-year-old aspiring police officer from Texas, had completed his academy coursework and was preparing to begin his career. Then he took the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement licensing exam and scored a 69.

The passing mark was 70.

Wilmore had missed by one point.

Shaq learned about his situation through social media and contacted Kemah Police Chief Raymond Garivey over FaceTime. O’Neal offered to sponsor Wilmore’s return to the academy and cover his expenses over a six-month period. He also promised to fund a custom patrol vehicle designed to fit Wilmore, who stands 7 feet 3 inches tall.

The recruit eventually passed the exam on his second attempt and was sworn in as a police officer with the Kemah Police Department in July 2026.

Explaining why he stepped in, Shaq said:

“I want him to really focus on this because it’s commendable that a kid wants to be an officer. I love cops. They made me who I am… I’m going to be on you, brother, make sure you get it done.”

Garivey, meanwhile, praised Wilmore for refusing to give up after the setback.

“In my 34-year career, I’ve seen others fail, but I also see others give up. Once they’re done, they’re done. That’s not the case here. He wants to serve… He truly wants to make a difference. I’m proud that he chose the thin blue line.”

Wilmore also spoke about the experience and the role Shaq played in helping him move forward.

“At first I was down, but I thought, you know, I’m still young. You fail, you get right back up. Can’t be too quick to quit… I’ve always liked to help other people. That’s just who I am. I’m really thankful for him helping me out and being there, and being a mentor for helping me through this.”

A New FBI Title, But Hardly a New Interest

The Quantico ceremony gave Shaq a title that most people would never expect to see next to his NBA achievements. But the honorary FBI designation makes more sense when viewed alongside the years he spent training, serving in reserve roles, and working with law-enforcement departments across the country.

From a late-night incident in Miami Beach to his community-relations role in Georgia, O’Neal’s connection to public safety has continued long after his playing career ended.

And now, with Kash Patel presenting him as an honorary FBI Special Agent, Shaq has another badge-related milestone to add to a résumé that was already anything but ordinary.