For a long time I felt lost. But I met a For a long time I felt lost. But I met a girl who later became my wife.girl who later became my wife.

My wife and her family introduced me to the My wife and her family introduced me to the LDS church when we were dating. I grew a LDS church when we were dating. I grew a testimony in the church. I had faith in God testimony in the church. I had faith in God but I didn’t feel that the Catholic church was but I didn’t feel that the Catholic church was correct. This made for a huge positive correct. This made for a huge positive change in my life.change in my life.

My wife and I helped each other through a lot. My wife and I helped each other through a lot. We got married when we were 18 and I got a We got married when we were 18 and I got a job with Arizona Tile. I even went back to school job with Arizona Tile. I even went back to school to get my GED. I realized that I needed to work to get my GED. I realized that I needed to work hard in order to gain what I wanted and we are hard in order to gain what I wanted and we are not entitled to anything in this life. The next 6 not entitled to anything in this life. The next 6 years of my life were dedicated to Arizona Tile years of my life were dedicated to Arizona Tile and my family. I was hired on as a janitor and and my family. I was hired on as a janitor and worked my way to Customer Service Supervisor worked my way to Customer Service Supervisor and Assistant Warehouse Manager. At the same and Assistant Warehouse Manager. At the same time, my wife and I were also raising 3 children. time, my wife and I were also raising 3 children. I started working for the company in Anaheim I started working for the company in Anaheim and a few years later my wife and I decided to and a few years later my wife and I decided to move to Utah. I was able to arrange a transfer move to Utah. I was able to arrange a transfer with my company and that’s how we started our with my company and that’s how we started our life in Clearfield Utah.life in Clearfield Utah.

When the recession hit in 2008 I was laid off When the recession hit in 2008 I was laid off by the company. The company that I had by the company. The company that I had devoted 6 years to let me go as soon as they devoted 6 years to let me go as soon as they could. My wife was also pregnant with our 4could. My wife was also pregnant with our 4thth child. Once again my family was in a child. Once again my family was in a stressful situation.stressful situation.

I struggled finding employment. Not much I struggled finding employment. Not much work out there for someone who’s education work out there for someone who’s education level doesn’t go past a GED. I couldn’t level doesn’t go past a GED. I couldn’t provide. I talked to my church leaders about provide. I talked to my church leaders about my situation and the ward stepped up and my situation and the ward stepped up and helped me and my family out a great deal. It helped me and my family out a great deal. It really made me appreciate the community really made me appreciate the community that we lived in.that we lived in.

A few of the jobs that I did find were A few of the jobs that I did find were dispatching for police fire and medical. dispatching for police fire and medical. This brought back my desire to get This brought back my desire to get into law enforcement. A feeling that into law enforcement. A feeling that had been dormant since I was 6 years had been dormant since I was 6 years old.old.

I also got the desire to expand my I also got the desire to expand my education. I wanted to set my self education. I wanted to set my self apart from the crowd as much as apart from the crowd as much as possible. So I enrolled in my 1possible. So I enrolled in my 1stst semester of college at Salt Lake semester of college at Salt Lake Community College. This makes me Community College. This makes me the first in my family to go to college.the first in my family to go to college.

I also decided to sponsor myself through the police I also decided to sponsor myself through the police academy at Weber State. It has been hard to take online academy at Weber State. It has been hard to take online classes and go full time in the academy. Not to mention classes and go full time in the academy. Not to mention my part time job. But it’s worth it. I am improving myself my part time job. But it’s worth it. I am improving myself to be the best officer that I can be. I want to protect my to be the best officer that I can be. I want to protect my family and the community that has given so much to us.family and the community that has given so much to us.

I am inline to graduate from the I am inline to graduate from the academy on May 18academy on May 18thth. So far I have . So far I have acquired 2 certifications. I am able to acquired 2 certifications. I am able to be a corrections officer if there is an be a corrections officer if there is an opening anywhere. But my goal is to opening anywhere. But my goal is to get my law enforcement officer get my law enforcement officer certification.certification.

Getting certified to this point hasn’t been easy. It’s Getting certified to this point hasn’t been easy. It’s been a few months of learning Utah law and hard been a few months of learning Utah law and hard physical training. But the reward is great.physical training. But the reward is great.

In the future I see myself employed by a In the future I see myself employed by a police agency, working my way up to police agency, working my way up to sergeant. I eventually hope to end up in sergeant. I eventually hope to end up in Clearfield as an officer. I love this city. I went Clearfield as an officer. I love this city. I went through a lot here and I love the community.through a lot here and I love the community.