Of the group, 10 joined the police force and nine became new firefighters. What makes this latest group of academy graduates notable is the range of experience and education within their collective ranks, with Police Chief Diane Urban saying:
“We are attracting serious, A-level players at HPD and I couldn’t be more excited.”
One example Chief Urban points to is David Cole. He comes to the force after being employed as a chemical engineer in research and development work. During his tenure in that field, he acquired six patents. Now, his digital Business Cards can carry the job title ‘police officer’ after his name.
In the Hayward Fire Department, several of the incoming rookies come with college degrees. The majors are varied, spanning everything from sociology to exercise physiology and agriculture business. One of them, Andrew Black, decided on a second career in public service after completing an engineering degree and running his own business.
When asked why Hayward is having such success in attracting so much talent, Chief Urban says it has to do with the reputation of the city’s public safety agencies. For example, this past March, the police department received an outstanding assessment score in its bid for re-accreditation by CALEA, (Commission Association for Law Enforcement Accreditation).Get a Free Quote for Business Cards