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Canfield assistant chief follows his passion for policing
CANFIELD
Scott Weamer, Canfield assistant police chief, said his 13 years on the force have been the best of his life.
“You have to love what you do, and I’m passionate about this job,” Weamer said.
Weamer didn’t always work in criminal justice, however.
In 1993 Weamer got his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Ohio Northern University.
Weamer said although he enjoyed the health field, he remembers hearing stories from a cousin going through the police academy that first piqued his interest in the field.
“I just put it in the back of my mind and kind of forgot about it and went on to work at a pharmacy in Warren,” Weamer said.
While working at that pharmacy, Weamer said he got a lot of feedback from the officers patrolling who said he should look into the field.
“At that particular store, I saw a lot of diversion, pharmaceutical diversion every day. I didn’t become a pharmacist to be a drug dealer, so I would pick up and call the drug task force,” Weamer said.
A little time and money later, Weamer said he fell in love with the field.
Education for Weamer didn’t stop after going back to become a police officer, however.
In February, Weamer completed the Certified Law Enforcement Executive program, a 14-month program provided by the Law Enforcement Foundation dedicated to transitioning officers into executive positions.
He is one of four officers on the Canfield Police Department and one of 387 officers to complete the program in the state over the past 20 years.
With his background in pharmacy, criminal justice training and now executive leadership training, Weamer said he is an adamant advocate of furthering one’s education.
“You never stop learning. This is not a black and white job,” Weamer said. “It’s a constant evolution – education is very important.”
Canfield Police Department, Weamer explained, is one of the handful of agencies in Ohio that requires a bachelor’s degree to work there.
In addition to furthering his executive police training, Weamer maintains his pharmacy license and is also finishing up a master’s degree in criminal justice at Youngstown State University.
“I really feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing – I made the right choice. I have no regrets,” Weamer said.
Canfield Police Chief Chuck Colucci said the program is aiding in making leaders in the police department the most effective leaders in the organization as a whole.
“It brings more to the table so that we can provide our community a more well-rounded officer,” Colucci said.
To Weamer, he said it’s all about the focus on community service.
“It’s very important to know what the community wants and needs and having that communication,” Weamer said. “Canfield is a great community. We take pride in what we do. It helps it stay a great community.”
Colucci said Canfield is fortunate to have an officer so dedicated to putting the community first.
“He is passionate about whatever it is he’s going after. He sacrificed a lot to follow that passion,” Colucci said.