Many Soldiers Return Home, Become Cops

HOUSTON - As a cluster of Houston Police Department cadets march their cadence is crisp and their steps certain. Seems they've had plenty of practice.

In fact, a full third of H.P.D.'s cadets have been seasoned by military service, many serving combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

What these vets turned cops bring to the table are qualities difficult to develop in a classroom. Intangible instincts honed in the survival of real-life tests.

What these vets turned cops bring to the table are qualities difficult to develop in a classroom. Intangible instincts honed in the survival of real-life tests.

"It's all about doing the right thing when nobodies looking sir,"says cadet Jeremy Hickok, who served with the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne in Afghanistan

" Maybe see something that's not necessarily there to someone else,"adds cadet Adam Smith, a former Marine who spent time in Iraq.

For future peace officers patrolling a diverse city, the experience of global military deployments offers a less obvious but potentially valuable dividend.

"I traveled to alot of places, got to know a lot of different cultures, personalities, people. That's kind of what i'm going to run into on the street," says cadet Derrick Love, a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

"Learning things from over there, seeing the kids run up to you and seeing how they respected you and coming home and trying to get kids over here to love and respect you is just huge," says cadet James Combs, who served two tours in Iraq with the Army's 123rd Infantry Division.

In their willingness to pound out push-ups with fellow police recruits, there is a simple expression of commitment. A sturdy compulsion from those who've served plenty already, to protect and serve some more.

"I just really hope to be a great asset to my community and the police department," says cadet Adrian King, an Army reservist.

"Hopefully change somebody's life in a positive way," says cadet and Naval veteran Kyle Dozier.

"I get allot of satisfaction helping people,"says cadet Jeff Elkin, a former Marine who served two tours in Iraq.

They are reasons why these men and women, who've fought our wars and protected our shores, believe their surest path to making things better begins with earning the badge.