Officer Richard LeCadre began his career with the Swatara Township Police in January of 2007, fulfilling a lifelong dream of becoming a police officer. His path to law enforcement was greatly influenced by the example set by his father, Mr. Craig LeCadre, who was working as a Harrisburg City Police Officer when Rich was born. After retiring from the Harrisburg Bureau of Police, Craig went to work for the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office as a Special Investigator.

In honor of Black History Month, both father and son recently discussed their experiences as law enforcement officers, their years of service, challenges they faced, and what the profession has meant to them.

Craig grew up in Brooklyn and met his wife when they were in the 11th grade. After high school, Craig began working on Wall Street and was quickly gaining attention from the higher-ups for his analytical mind and work ethic. His Wall Street job of three years was heading in the right direction, but Craig had a deep desire for something more "noble." He reflected on family members who worked for the Philadelphia DA's Office, and felt drawn towards the criminal justice field. Craig and his wife moved from Brooklyn to Harrisburg in order to be closer to family members and raise their kids in a better environment. Soon after moving to Harrisburg, Craig applied for a job with the Harrisburg Bureau of Police and was hired. He spent 13 years wearing several different hats with Harrisburg before retiring for a job with the PA Attorney General's Office. Over the past 20 years, Craig has served in many different capacities with the AG's Office, and has become known as one of the go-to guest speakers from that agency.

Rich was born and raised in the Harrisburg area. Growing up, he remembers playing "cops and robbers" and always portraying the role of the "cop." Being the son of a local police officer, Rich was always exposed to a lot of police stories and uniforms. His desire for a law enforcement career started at a very young age, and he never considered doing anything else. Although his father wasn't too thrilled about Rich becoming a police officer, he proudly stood by his side when Rich was sworn-in as a Swatara Township Police Officer in 2007. Rich has spent his career becoming well-versed in several areas of law enforcement. Two of his most important roles are those of Firearms Instructor and Field Training Officer. Both roles place a large amount of responsibility in Rich's hands as they involve the ongoing safe training of dozens of new and veteran police officers.

Craig attended the Municipal Police Academy in 1988 and Rich followed in 2007. Craig was one of only four black cadets in his class, and Rich was the only black cadet in his class. During their time in their respective Academy classes, both men noticed the staunch underrepresentation of minority cadets. However, both Craig and Rich reported that their classes did not create an environment where they felt uncomfortable. Both father and son were there to accomplish a mission, not to focus on possible division within their Academy classes that might deter them from their goals.

Both Craig and Rich talked about the challenges they have faced as men of color behind the badge. Sometimes it came from other minorities who criticized them for being police officers; sometimes it came from white people. Rich explained that he was often "singled out" as a kid simply for being the son of a police officer. So for him, these challenges on the job were a continuation of being singled out. He was used to it. He developed a thick skin. Craig could sense the same type of issues, but was so driven to perform his mission that he had no time to dwell on the negativity. He was 100% focused on the job at hand, which helped him cope with the challenge of being a black police officer and Special Agent.

Rich encourages young kids in the black and brown communities to consider a career in law enforcement. He feels these kids have the opportunity to step up and "be the change" they want to see in American law enforcement. Both father and son discussed the negative impact of social media on how law enforcement careers are perceived. They encourage young people to keep an open mind and understand social media for what it is. Rich encourages young people to speak with local police officers about the job and get a better understanding of what it really means to be a police officer.

With regard to Black History Month, both men are appreciative of the fact that time has been set aside to honor the achievements of black and brown people who have paved the way for our country. While reflecting on that statement, Craig pointed out that as Americans we should be celebrating and honoring these achievements all year. He encourages all of us to start thinking about each other more often as opposed to designated times throughout the year. Instead of compartmentalizing our recognition of different parts of our society, let's celebrate each other all the time.

When asked to share his feelings on his law enforcement career, Rich explained that as a young police officer you think you can "save the world." As time marches on, a young officer realizes that will not be the case. But as a police officer, maybe you can make a difference for just one person. And then one more. Maybe you can be the "change agent" for a person who really needs a helping hand. If you can spend your career helping one person after the next, you're making a difference in the world. Rich finished his thought by stating, "A lot can get done in 15 minutes," referring to the time a police officer can invest in a person's life. That might be the entire amount of time we spend with someone, or it might be the extra 15 minutes an officer spends with a victim after a four hour incident. In either case, the 15 minutes can have a huge impact. Craig smiled and explained that he has always taught his children about the extra 15 minutes. He agreed with his son's comments and stated that he has solved some of his most memorable cases in those 15 minutes. Getting closer to retirement after an illustrious 33-year law enforcement career Craig said, "I'd do it all over again."

As the conversation concluded, the common theme between father and son was glaringly obvious. Their passion and zeal for the law enforcement profession, coupled with a high level of determination and focus, allowed both men to become very successful in their field. These same characteristics allowed them to face the challenges of underrepresentation, prejudice, and racism as black law enforcement professionals.

The Swatara Township Police Department would like to thank both Special Agent Craig LeCadre and Officer Rich LeCadre for sharing their stories. May you both enjoy continued success in all of your endeavors!