Shaquille O'Neal

The 51-year-old NBA legend comes from a family with strong ties working law enforcement and has held positions in several police departments.

Shaq went through the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Reserve Academy and became a reserve officer with the Los Angeles Port Police.

In March 2005, O'Neal was given an honorary U.S. Deputy Marshal title and named the spokesman for the Safe Surfin' Foundation; he served an honorary role on the task force of the same name, which tracks down sexual predators who target children on the Internet.

When he transferred to Miami Heat in 2004, Shaq began training to become a Miami Beach reserve officer. On December 8, 2005, he was sworn in, but elected for a private ceremony to avoid distracting attention from the other officers. He assumed a $1-per-year salary in this capacity.

When he was made a deputy at St Martin’s Parish Sherriff’s Office in Lousiana Baton Rouge, The Clerk of Court Louis Perot said: “He loves the police. He loves to support the police.”