Wilbur J. O'Berry III

Master Police Officer

Newport News Police Department

04.2007 - Current

Employed by the Newport News Police Department beginning on April 7, 2007. Began career by participating in the pre-hire program. Chose Central Precinct during the bid system in Basic Law Enforcement Academy Class 05 and was assigned to Central Precinct beginning December 2007. After completing Field Training, was assigned to Central Precinct, Watch I, District 21. I have continued on Watch I for my first four and a half years. I have been on Central Precinct Watch III for three years working District 21.
I was promoted to Master Police Officer. In April 2015, I transferred from patrol to Detective in the Training Academy. I became the Field Training Officer Coordinator, the Basic Law Enforcement Coordinator, Taser Coordinator and CPR Coordinator. In July 2020, I was transferred to Special Operations K9 Division.
I became a certified field training officer on January 29, 2010. I began training new officers before this date. I have released several officers to independent patrol. I have been able to train over 30 officers during my tenure as a field training officer. I have used my knowledge and experience to assist them in understanding drug arrests, DUI arrests, and use of force situations. I strive to ensure that new officers are taught the correct way to investigate and prosecute criminal and traffic related cases. I train new recruits to the highest standard for they are the officers who will be watching my back in the future.
I attended the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act on February 23, 2010. The school helped me to understand the dangers surrounding abortion clinics and how to respond to situations at abortion clinics. Working in area 21 of Central Precinct, we have to respond to calls frequently for disorderly protestors.
I attended Anti-Terrorism Training for First Responders on June 29, 2010. Attending this school prepared me for situations involving suspicious packages that we frequently get dispatched to. The school provided me with the necessary steps to be prepared for dangerous packages.
I attended General Instructor School on November 14, 2011. I completed the class on November 18, 2011. The class assisted me in public speaking. It also assists me in my everyday field training with new officers. As of April 13, 2012 I completed my certification for general instructor.
I attended Driving Instructor School in November 2012. The class taught me to push a patrol car to the extremes. It helps me for when I am on regular patrol and when I am teaching new officers. I have recently taught the new class in April 2013.
I attended CPR Instructor School in February 2014. The class taught me proper techniques in life saving efforts. Since the class, I have taught in a class room setting. Additionally, I saved a man's life by administering 5 minutes of CPR.
I attended Breath Test Operator School in June 2014. The class gave me the ability to administer breath tests for officers making DUI arrests, as well as my own arrests.
From December 2007 when I was released to independent patrol until the present day, I have been a very proactive patrol officer. I have compiled 970 arrests and 1294 summonses as a patrol officer which is not including arrests and summons made with trainees. I have been nominated for Officer of the Year in 2010. I have been awarded over ten times with Central Precinct's Top Cop Award on dayshift.
Since transferring to midnight shift in November 2011, I have won the Central Precinct Top Cop Award ten times. I was awarded with the Officer of the Quarter Award in 2010. I have become a top DUI officer in Central Precinct. In 2012, I was third on the department with 28 DUI arrests. In 2013, I lead the department with 37 DUI arrests. Both 2012 and 2013, I was awarded DUI awards. In 2014, I was third in the department with 30 DUI arrests. I will be receiving another MADD award for this.
Several of my cases have led to criminals serving times in the penitentiary and cases going to the Federal level. I have also been awarded as a two-time Life Saving Award Recipient. I was recently awarded a lifesaving award from the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police. I was awarded for Field Training Officer of the year in 2012.
In June 2014, I sat on the board for the FTO Review Panel. As a senior Field Training Officer, I was able to assist in picking the future leaders for field training on the department. Additionally, I taught 3 classes at the 2014 Field Training Officer class. This class was used to teach officers how to become great field training officers.
On April 1, 2015, I transferred from patrol to the Training Academy. I was given the title of Detective in the unit. I was in charge of the Field Training Division for the Department. My official title for the unit was Field Training Coordinator. I also worked closely with our academy class.
On April 1, 2015 I was promoted to Master Police Officer for the department. I completed the Master Police Officer process in early March 2015. My specialty for this role is being a field training officer and driving instructor for the department.
On June 25, 2015 I completed Standardized Field Sobriety Test Instructor School. I completed my apprenticeship on October 30, 2015.
On July 17, 2015 I completed Defensive Tactics Instructor School with the Virginia Beach Police Department. I then did my apprenticeship with the Newport News Police Department on November 3-10.
On July 20, 2015 I assumed the responsibility of Basic Law Enforcement Coordinator, along with being the field training officer coordinator. I graduated my first academy class December 17, 2015, graduating 16 recruits. Since then, I have graduated 13 police academies totaling more than 260 police recruits.
While in training from July 2015 to current date, I hold four coordinating positions within training to include Basic Law Enforcement Coordinator, FTO Coordinator, CPR Coordinator and TASER Coordinator.
On March 21-28, 2016 I attended Firearms Instructor School with the Newport News Police Department. I was able to complete the school and continue to train firearms for the department
In July 2016, I attended Fair and Impartial Policing Course put on by the Governor of Virginia. I became an instructor and continue to teach this to the Basic Law Enforcement Class.
In August 2016, I attended a Glock Armorer Course and completed the course. I continue to act as an armorer for the department.
In June 2017, I attended training put on by AXON in Arizona. I became an AXON Camera instructor for all camera systems provided.
In October 2017, I attended TASER Instructor School and completed it satisfactorily. I continued to teach to recruit classes and In-service training.
In July 2018, I attended PPD Certification course. I completed this and can read PPD for the department.
In August 2018, I attended ALERRT Active Threat training and completed the course as an instructor. I taught the subject to the BLE since 2016, and became a full instructor in 2018. I continue to teach this to the BLE.
In October 2019, I attended the Master Instructor Course for Taser. After that week, I was deemed a Master Instructor and can now contract with them around the world.
In July 2020, I transferred to Special Operations K9 Division to handle K9 Volt. K9 Volt and I certified on patrol operations in December 2020. We certified as an explosives team May 2021.

Summary

Overview

Work History

Master Police Officer

Education

No Degree - Criminal Justice

Skills

Accomplishments

Field Training Officer of Year 2012

Community

Timeline

Master Police Officer

No Degree - Criminal Justice

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