Public & Human Services: Police Officer
Public & Human Services
Police Officer: Aaron Carvalho
by Mike Yoshiura
It was Aaron Carvalho's boyhood dream to someday become a police officer. In 2003, the 26-year-old was recruited by the Hawaii County Police Department, making his fantasy a reality.
"This is not just a job for me, it's a career. Some people go to work to pay the bills, but I actually enjoy what I do," said Aaron Carvalho. "It's a great feeling knowing you worked towards something and you achieved it."
Carvalho attended St. Joseph's High School in Hilo, where he became active in the Junior Reserve Officer's Training Corps (JROTC). His involvement in JROTC sparked an interest in the military, and when he graduated in 1999, the 18-year-old decided to enlist with the Army Reserve.
The Perfect Match
The Army Reserve was a perfect match for Aaron, who likes having structure in his life. He worked at Sears in high school, and recalls seeing teenagers aimlessly cruising the mall. It dawned on him that he never wanted to be like that, and he wanted to do something with his life other than wandering pointlessly. "I wanted to be a part of the solution and do my part. I really wanted to do something better with my life."
Reaching His Goal
The minimum age to get into the police department is 21. In 2003, at the age of 22, Aaron started his training at the police academy. While most people would be out celebrating such a milestone in their life, Aaron didn't have the time to take everything in. About eight weeks after he was sworn in with the police department, his Reserve Unit was abruptly deployed to Iraq.
Sergeant Carvalho and the rest of the Unit Alpha Company 411th Combat Battalion touched down in Baghdad, Iraq in January 2004. "I'll take those experiences with me for the rest of my life. Being there, you go through a realization. You learn to value life, and you don't ever take things for granted again," said Carvalho, as his voice takes a serious tone. "You're scarred even before you get there."
In The Line Of Fire
According to Carvalho, his unit was in a hot zone so there was always a chance they could engage in combat. "There are constant mortar attacks so you are never really off. You carry a weapon with you everywhere you go, and you are always wearing a Kevlar [bulletproof] Vest."
It was six months into his tour of duty, when the SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) gunner was a passenger in a Hummer that was hit by an I.E.D (Improvised Explosive Device). His right leg was punctured by fragments (shrapnel) from the I.E.D, fracturing his femur (thigh bone) in the process. Carvalho was immediately Medivaced to Germany, and three days later he was back home recuperating at Tripler Hospital.
Deactivation
In January 2005, he was relieved from active duty, and shortly thereafter, he picked up where he left off with the Hawaii County Police Department. But, it took four surgeries and five months of physical therapy before Carvalho could get back to his normal routine. "I definitely have no regrets. I signed up for a cause, and getting injured won't take away from that."
These days, Aaron is a patrolman in South Hilo, and he appreciates the fact that everyday is a new day. All new recruits start at the patrolman level, and they respond to calls concerning everything from barking dogs to fired gunshots. "You really need the desire because the job is not for everyone. You have to want to help people."
Setting The Standards
"The job is very stressful because we are always being viewed by the public. A lot of people associate the police with negative [stereotypes] because every time you call the police it's because something bad happens."
There are a lot of negative stereotypes attached to police officers, but the public doesn't always see the good that police officers do for the community. Police officers are always in uniform so they are highly visible. "Police officers are always under the public's watchful eye so we are held to higher standards. That is why the job isn't for everyone because some officers cannot live up to those standards."
Aaron Carvalho has lived his life at a much higher standard, and his reward is finding a career he can actually say he enjoys.