Iraq War Veteran Hopes to Use Military Experience and LCCC Degree to Start Career as Police Officer

Dylan Atherton of Lorain, an Iraq war veteran, wants to use his military experience and associate’s degree from LCCC to start a career as a police officer.

“My experience in the military showed me I can do anything,” Atherton said. “It also showed me how to deal with all sorts of people.”

The 25-year-old spent a year in Baghdad, Iraq from March of 2004 to March of 2005 after being stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. He joined the Army in 2001. 

While in Baghdad he saw his share of enemy fire. “We experienced mortar fire two to three times a week. Sometimes more,” he said. “This was a difficult period of my life, but I took pride in what I did there.”

And, he hopes to take pride in serving a community as a police officer after he graduates this May with an associate of applied science in Police Science. “I’d like to be a police officer in any community in this part of the state,” he said.

“My military experience gave me the understanding of following a chain of command. My education and training put me in contact with instructors that have great real world experience and gave us situations we could learn from,” Atherton said.

His education wouldn’t have been possible without the support he received from wife Jaclyn, kids Grace and Charles and his employer, he said. “I spent many nights on the computer. There were times I wanted to give up but my wife pushed and motivated me to keep trying.  I also have to thank my employer because of the time they let me take off to complete assignments,” Atherton said.

He was also grateful for the guidance he received from Roy Cavan, commander of the LCCC Police Academy. “While I was overseas I corresponded with commander Cavan, and knowing that I would not be in the academy for a while, he gave help via email. He also contacted my wife with information for me when I got out of the military,” Atherton said.

Atherton comes with an added bonus for any police department looking for a new officer – he completed the LCCC Police Academy in 2005 after leaving the military. This training covers all areas that are mandated by the Ohio Police Officers Training Commission (OPOTC), which oversees police training in Ohio.

As for advice to other veterans, he said education is the link to a rewarding career. “Veterans pay into education benefits and are able to access them when they get out. There is no reason not to try it,” he said.