It was only years ago when John Young’s cleats scuffed the turf of the Athens High School football field. Only weeks ago that the soles of his dress shoes were planted near the altar in Galbreath Chapel, where he stood ready to marry his high school sweetheart in the heart of the town that had been their world for as long as they both could remember.
This week, Young, the newest cadet at the Ohio University Police Department, leaves his hometown and new bride behind to begin his training period at the police academy, where he will stay for five months before his time as an officer begins.
An Athens native and recent graduate of Ohio University’s criminal justice program, Young spent his first two years of higher education at Hocking College, where his search for a major led to the discovery of his interest in law enforcement.
“When I went to Hocking, I really had no idea what I wanted to do,” Young said. “I was undecided and dabbled in different classes, and then I got into police science and I really enjoyed it, so I just went from there.”
Young’s appointment is a step closer to a full staff for the department, which has struggled with a shortage in staffing throughout the year, having hired one other officer in August. OUPD Lt. Tim Ryan said one vacancy now remains on the force.
“We are excited to welcome John, who is a local resident and Ohio University alumnus, to our department,” OUPD Chief Andrew Powers said. “Officer Young will start out at the police academy before beginning his field training with us later this year.”
Without a full staff, Powers explained, officers are often forced to pick up additional shifts, resulting in not only a strained workforce, but also a costly overtime bill for the department.
“Overtime is obviously more costly and it is also harder on our employees as it forces them to spend more time at work and less time with their families,” Powers said. “As we work toward full staffing, it is my goal to fulfill our obligations while at the same time minimizing the strain on our staff and budget.”
Young, who was sworn in by OU President Roderick McDavis in early January, will have a starting salary of $42,000, which will increase upon his return from the police academy. His wife, a student at OU, will receive free tuition as a qualified dependent, as per university policy.
Despite a national environment in which the actions of police officers have been routinely under the microscope, not to mention a campus drinking culture that often necessitates interactions between students and law enforcement, Young said he stands by his decision to become an officer with OUPD.
“If you know a lot of these officers personally, they’re really here just to help people,” Young said. “They’re not here to ruin someone’s life. They’re here to make sure you don’t hurt yourself or one another. It’s hard to deal with people who have negative connotations toward officers.”
Although his wife, Stevie, is not yet sure where her career will take her following graduation from OU, Young hopes to remain close to his roots in Athens, where four dogs and a host of familiar faces will welcome him home June 30.
“I’m very involved in the community,” Young said. “I’ve been playing sports since I was in grade school, all the way up. I’ve gotten involved in a lot of things with fundraising — you know, different parts of the community. I know so many people, it’s easy for me to cling to it and stay here.”
