Among the group of Cincinnati police recruits currently training at the police academy is a former officer who is a testament to the saying "never give up."Darryl Williams, 57, has been through the academy once before. He graduated from it in 1997 and served on the Cincinnati police department for several years. Williams worked as a patrol officer in district three until 2006 when his oldest daughter accepted a scholarship officer to play at a premier sports academy in Florida. The family moved to Florida and Williams left his dream job behind.In February, he will graduate from trainee to officer again, this time almost 25 years later."I think I still have something to offer. I think I still have something to give back. I left in a time that I really didn't want to leave but I left for my family, but I still feel I have a whole lot to give to the city of Cincinnati," Williams said. Williams said it was always in his heart to come back to policing. He said he was a community-oriented police officer "before they had that name."He hopes his determination inspires others who are considering going into policing, especially as police recruitment has grown more difficult. "Never give up. I applied since leaving the department at least five or six times. Never gave up, never gave up hope," he said. "Hopefully other people will see if he's 56 or 57 and can do it, maybe at 35, 34 I can do it."Williams has lost thirty pounds since training started. He said the physical challenges have been different this time around."I used to be the number one or two in running, pushups, sit-ups. It's sort of humbling to come in and now I'm struggling," he joked. He said his fellow recruits are respectful but tease him about his age."They all call me 56 but I guess they're gonna have to change it 'cause I had a birthday in October. I'm 57 now," he said. Lt. Col. Mike John, one of the department's assistant chiefs, graduated in the 83rd class with Williams. "If I even go back 25 years, he wasn't the youngest in the class then. He was someone that we all looked up to. He was actually somewhat of a father figure to us," John said. "He is the type of person we want policing the streets of Cincinnati."John said Williams used to pray for the class every day. He was also admired for his physical fitness. "We used to call him Big Daddy," John said. "We actually changed his nickname when we started doing defensive tactics and ground fighting. We called him Big Damage."Williams said he has learned a lot from his fellow recruits, especially on the technology front."I've never owned a laptop before so I had to get one for this class. Everything we did was hand-written, complaints, everything," he said. "I had been typing for days, wasn't saving anything. So one of my recruits had to say 'Mr. Williams, every now and then you have to save something.'"He is sharing his knowledge and experience with the younger recruits, many of whom are half his age."I think I can help the young people understand exactly what they're getting into. I think a lot of them don't really understand what they're about to see. Some of the things they're going to see and do, they're never going to be able to take out their mind," he said. A lot changes in 25 years, but John said Williams has remained the same. "The temperament he has now is exactly the same as he had back in 1997 to the point where he left in 2006. He's not changed," John said. "He is the absolute servant leader."
Among the group of Cincinnati police recruits currently training at the police academy is a former officer who is a testament to the saying "never give up."
Darryl Williams, 57, has been through the academy once before. He graduated from it in 1997 and served on the Cincinnati police department for several years. Williams worked as a patrol officer in district three until 2006 when his oldest daughter accepted a scholarship officer to play at a premier sports academy in Florida. The family moved to Florida and Williams left his dream job behind.
In February, he will graduate from trainee to officer again, this time almost 25 years later.
"I think I still have something to offer. I think I still have something to give back. I left in a time that I really didn't want to leave but I left for my family, but I still feel I have a whole lot to give to the city of Cincinnati," Williams said.
Williams said it was always in his heart to come back to policing. He said he was a community-oriented police officer "before they had that name."
He hopes his determination inspires others who are considering going into policing, especially as police recruitment has grown more difficult.
"Never give up. I applied since leaving the department at least five or six times. Never gave up, never gave up hope," he said. "Hopefully other people will see if he's 56 or 57 and can do it, maybe at 35, 34 I can do it."
Williams has lost thirty pounds since training started. He said the physical challenges have been different this time around.
"I used to be the number one or two in running, pushups, sit-ups. It's sort of humbling to come in and now I'm struggling," he joked.
He said his fellow recruits are respectful but tease him about his age.
"They all call me 56 but I guess they're gonna have to change it 'cause I had a birthday in October. I'm 57 now," he said.
Lt. Col. Mike John, one of the department's assistant chiefs, graduated in the 83rd class with Williams.
"If I even go back 25 years, he wasn't the youngest in the class then. He was someone that we all looked up to. He was actually somewhat of a father figure to us," John said. "He is the type of person we want policing the streets of Cincinnati."
John said Williams used to pray for the class every day. He was also admired for his physical fitness.
"We used to call him Big Daddy," John said. "We actually changed his nickname when we started doing defensive tactics and ground fighting. We called him Big Damage."
Williams said he has learned a lot from his fellow recruits, especially on the technology front.
"I've never owned a laptop before so I had to get one for this class. Everything we did was hand-written, complaints, everything," he said. "I had been typing for days, wasn't saving anything. So one of my recruits had to say 'Mr. Williams, every now and then you have to save something.'"
He is sharing his knowledge and experience with the younger recruits, many of whom are half his age.
"I think I can help the young people understand exactly what they're getting into. I think a lot of them don't really understand what they're about to see. Some of the things they're going to see and do, they're never going to be able to take out their mind," he said.
A lot changes in 25 years, but John said Williams has remained the same.
"The temperament he has now is exactly the same as he had back in 1997 to the point where he left in 2006. He's not changed," John said. "He is the absolute servant leader."
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