Retired NBA star Shaquille O’Neal is leveraging his background in law enforcement to mentor an aspiring police officer in Kemah, Texas. The young man, Jordan Wilmore, who is 7-foot-3, hopes to become the tallest police officer in the state.
O’Neal, who is 7-foot-1, told KHOU, “I actually found out about him through jealousy. I thought I was the tallest, handsomest cop in the world.”
O’Neal met 24-year-old Wilmore after seeing him on Instagram. Wilmore, who aspires to join the Kemah Police Department, had already completed the academy before taking his state peace officer exam.
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Wilmore recounted, “I made a 69. You have to make at least a 70 to pass. At first I was down, but I’m still young. You fail, you get back up—you can’t just quit.”
Wilmore had previously told Fox 26 Houston, “I’ve always had a desire and goal to become a police officer.” He shared his passion to “serve the community and help out the ones that are in need.”
O’Neal reached out personally to the Kemah Police Chief Raymond Garivey via a FaceTime call. Garivey remarked, “In my 34-year career, I’ve seen others fail and give up. That’s not the case here. He wants to serve.”
As a certified peace officer and an NBA legend, O’Neal understood the aspirations and challenges of becoming a police officer, having completed the required rigorous training himself.
O’Neal stated, “It actually took me five to seven years to graduate from the L.A. Sheriff’s Academy.”
O’Neal is personally sponsoring Jordan’s entire journey through the police academy to ensure he can achieve his dream without financial burden.
Wilmore, who formerly played basketball overseas, has always aspired to work in law enforcement. Due to his height, passing the exam will necessitate not only a custom vehicle but also a specialized uniform and a special-order firearm to accommodate his hands.
O’Neal remarked, “I want him to really focus on this because it’s commendable that a kid wants to be a cop. I love cops. Cops made me who I am.”
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“I gave him a speech that I would give any other big man in the locker room,” Shaq told Fox26 Houston. “Tell him to keep going. A lot of people realize in this world that before you succeed, you must first learn to fail. So, I’m like, ‘hey man, keep it going.'”
To further encourage Jordan, O’Neal has promised him a custom-made car once he successfully passes the exam.
O’Neal said, “I wanted to let him know he has my full support. I’ll be on him to make sure he gets it done.” “Yes, sir,” Wilmore confirmed.
Wilmore thanked him for his help, saying, “I’m really thankful for him helping me out and being a mentor through this.”
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