Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 30, 1992 TAG: 9203260304
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Almena Hughes North Correspondent
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
NEW POLICE OFFICER LOOKS TO BRIGHT FUTURE
Long before Richard Scott Beard was confirmed by town council on Jan. 13 as Buchanan's new police sergeant, he had law enforcement in his blood."It's sort of a family tradition. My great-grandfather was a policeman, and my father, R. W. Dick Beard, is a deputy sheriff in Botetourt County," he says.
The Buchanan native attended Cardinal Criminal Justice Academy in Salem, graduating second in his class. He entered law enforcement part time in 1983 and went full time in 1985, the year he graduated.
He joined and served on the Roanoke County Sheriff's Department for seven years while waiting for an opportunity to open up at home. He has spent most of the time since September in training for his new job.
The volatile recent history of the Buchanan force, peppered with resignations over disputes between officers and town council, doesn't bother Beard.
Beard, the town's fifth new police officer in the past 15 months, says he's positive about the future.
Job strategy: "I plan to take a common-sense approach to law enforcement here in town. To be fair and to be someone the people can trust and believe when I tell them they've done something wrong....If an arrest needs to be made or a summons issued, I'll do it. But if I need to use discretion, I'll do that, too."
He says in the arrests that have been made so far, "the people have come along real peacefully."
Most rewarding aspect of work: "Going home at night and knowing that you've done your job and people appreciate what you've done. When they come to you and say 'We appreciate that the streets are safe to walk up and down.'"
Most frustrating aspect of work: "Just trying to keep up with all of the changes the Supreme Court comes down with is hectic. So I guess it's keeping up with the changing laws, paperwork and technicalities."
Familiy life: Buchanan's newest officer lives on the edge of town on a farm with his wife and 22-month-old son. He say's he's looking forward to the birth of his second child in April. Beard has several dogs and raises cattle, sheep and pygmy goats.
Spare time: He enjoys hunting, fishing, golf and farming.
Future: Staying in Buchanan, keeping his wife happy, raising his children and putting them through college.
With an eye toward his own future, Beard is attending Virginia Western Community College, where he is working toward an associate's degree in administration of justice. But he says he hopes his law-enforcement lineage will take a turn for the richer when it come to his son.
"If he is in law enforcement, I hope it's as a lawyer. Or maybe he'll be a doctor or an engineer. I'd like for him to get paid for what he knows and not for what he does," Beard says.