NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal says he is ready to enter the political arena.
The 15-time NBA All-Star announced Monday that he intends to run for sheriff in 2020 but has not specified where. O’Neal owns properties in the Atlanta area as well as Florida and could move to another district to establish residency in the next two years.
“This is not about politics,” O’Neal told WXIA. “This is about bringing people closer together. You know, when I was coming up, people loved and respected the police, the deputies. And I want to be the one to bring that back, especially in the community I serve.”
O’Neal, who has run in the past as a Democrat, is an honorary deputy in Clayton County, Georgia, and admits he lacks law enforcement experience. But he promises he would build a strong team with experienced members.
“I know how to run a team. My style is going to be to surround myself with guys who have been doing it way longer than I’ve been doing it. Surround myself with smarter people,” O’Neal said.
Still, O’Neal is no stranger to working with law enforcement, having been sworn in as a reserve officer in the Doral Police Department in Florida. He’s also done the same in Miami Beach, Tempe, Ariz., and the Port of Los Angeles.
