By Joe Olenick<br><a href="mailto:olenickj@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Joe</a>
Protecting others seems to be hereditary for one family.
Lockport native Bryan Parker graduated from the Border Patrol Academy in New Mexico on Oct. 15. He follows a family line that includes his grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great grandfather, all of whom have had careers in law enforcement. Grandfather William F. Parker was in New Mexico to see Bryan graduate from the school.
“I am very proud,” he said. “It’s a tough school and he had to go through tough training.”
The academy is a 19-week course, which according to its Web site, www.cbp.gov, includes instruction in law, physical training, firearms, driving and Spanish. For the law portion, Border Patrol students learn about nationality law, immigration law, criminal law and statutory authority. Statutory authority teaches Border Patrol trainees from which laws and court decisions the Border Patrol derives its authority in a given situation.
For the physical training, the Web site said trainees have to pass three physical tests, including a 220-yard dash, a 1 and one-half mile run and a test involving self defense. William F. Parker said trainees have to defend themselves in a room for about three minutes.
Another test is learning Spanish, which is important because about 90 percent of undocumented aliens caught every year speak only Spanish. The trainees also learn how to operate a variety of different vehicles.
William F. was a member of the Lockport Police Department for 33 years, retiring as a lieutenant in 1990. His father, William H. Parker, was a special deputy with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department in Florida for 10 years. Fred Faery, the grandfather of William F., served as a deputy in the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department for nine years. Faery also worked for the Village of Wilson before retiring at age 80.
Bryan graduated from Lockport High School in 2006. An avid golfer, Bryan took a number of tests in law enforcement, including one for the Lockport Police Department, William F. said. He did well, but for the Border Patrol test, Bryan finished fourth out of more than 100 test-takers.
“I told him, ‘Take every test,’ ” William said. “It’s a good deal (the Border Patrol), being in law enforcement is something he’s always wanted to do.”
Bryan is currently in New Mexico, but is expected to come back to Lockport for the holidays, William added.
Contact reporter Joe Olenick at 439-9222, ext. 6241.
