OXNARD CAN SEE SHAQ ON CRIME-FIGHTING TEAM.

Byline: Cecilia Chan Staff Writer

OXNARD - If Lakers superstar Shaquille O'Neal really wants to trade in his size 22 EEE high-tops for a silver-and-gold badge, the Oxnard Police Department said Thursday that it has a job for him.

O'Neal told a group of youngsters during the taping of a cable TV food show earlier this week that he planned to hang up his jersey in three years and hoped to go into law enforcement.

``I will be giving up (basketball) when I am 32,'' the 29-year-old Los Angeles Lakers center said last week on ``Half Baked,'' a Burly Bear Network cable show that caters to a national college-age audience. ``I want to go into law enforcement after basketball.''

That got the Oxnard cops moving faster than a ``Showtime'' fast break.

``When we heard this a couple of days ago we thought: We've got the perfect place for him,'' said David Keith, Oxnard Police Department spokesman. ``We would love for him to spend the day with us so we can show him what we have to offer.''

Shaq's agent, Leonard Armato, was out of the country Thursday and not available for comment. A spokesman for the Lakers said the team only comments about O'Neal's on-court performance, not his off-court activities.

On Wednesday, Police Chief Art Lopez mailed a two-page letter and an application inviting Shaq to join the 205-member police force.

``It may prove a little difficult to have you work undercover,'' Lopez wrote. ``But I'm sure we can find lots of things for you to do that would put your extensive talents to work.''

Lopez pitched the Ventura County community's clean air, mild climate and the department's four-day workweek, which would allow Shaq to pursue his other interests such as acting and ``taping those Taco Bell ads.''

Lopez also offered to special order a police uniform to fit Shaq's 7-foot-1, 315-pound frame. And instead of a typical patrol car, the department would provide the NBA superstar with a Lincoln Navigator - apparently Shaq's favorite vehicle since he reportedly owns seven of them.

``We certainly would accommodate him like any officer if there is a special need,'' Keith said.

Although the 98-year-old department employs quite a few Lakers fans, Keith promised that Shaq wouldn't receive any special treatment. He would undergo the same rigorous interviews, tests and 24-week training at the police academy in Camarillo, Keith said.

After a few years of pounding the beat as a patrol cop, a whole world of possibilities are open to Shaq, including becoming a detective or joining the SWAT team, Lopez said.

But as a rookie, Keith noted, Shaq can kiss those multimillion-dollar contracts good-bye. The salary for a first-year officer is $35,000.

Sgt. Dan Christian, a 25-year veteran, said that as long as Shaq can meet the department's standards, he'd be as welcome as any other new recruit.

``The biggest drawback for him would be the notoriety before coming into the department,'' Christian said. `'Initially, he may be a distraction. But after a while, I don't see that would be a problem.''

And Keith said he's not pursuing Shaq simply because of his reputation as a basketball legend.

``We are looking for community-based people. People who are very good with the public and in law enforcement for the right reason.

``He definitely qualifies under that,'' he said. ``He'll be a great role model for residents out here.

``If he is serious, we would love to talk to him.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Laker Shaquille O'Neal, seen here in the NBA finals, remarked this week that he hoped for a law enforcement career after he retires from sports.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer

(2 -- color) SHAQ