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Police recruit touched by STL officer shootings won't give up on dream

A police recruit says he won't give up on law enforcement, even though three police officers have been shot in the metro in the last couple of weeks.

ST. LOUIS — A police recruit says he won't give up on law enforcement, even though three police officers have been shot in the metro in the last couple of weeks.

Most days of the week, Corey Hawkins-Byrd, 25, commutes from his home in North County to the police academy in Jefferson County, where he learns not just how to be an officer, but the risks of the job, too.

"Like the Arnold situation,” he said.

Just last week one of his instructors missed class to help the police department because officer Ryan O’Connor was shot by a suspect, Corey said.

"You never know when it can happen to you, but just be prepared for when it does,” he said.

That lesson set in again Thursday morning, when he learned two Bellefontaine Neighbors officers were shot in their vests.

"Oh man, it hit close to home because I just met all of those officers,” he said.

He spent hours training with one of them just days ago.

"That was my first ride along,” he said.

But the danger doesn't deter him.

"It’s my calling. I know a lot of people would say, ‘No,I don't want to do it anymore, but it's the only thing I want to do -- is to help those who can't help themselves,” he said.

Corey is already applying for jobs and hopes to have one lined up before graduation in June.

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