John Myers is thought to have made California history as the oldest known police rookie to ever serve in the state at 78 years old, officials told a local outlet.
Myers, who had a long career teaching law — including a decade at UC Law San Francisco — decided to enroll in the police academy at age 77, KCRA 3 reported. He said he had felt a drive to go into law enforcement since childhood. (RELATED: 21-Year-Old Breaks Rubik’s Cube Record With Lightning-Quick Hands, Brain)
“This is the last time to do stuff I’ve always wanted to do,” Myers said. “This is the last chance I have to do something like this, period.”
California’s oldest police recruit | Professor John Myers is 78 years old. He’s been a Karate instructor in his 50s and a race car driver in his 60s. Now, he’s ready for his biggest challenge yet. See our full story Monday on the KCRA 3 News at 6 p.m. pic.twitter.com/gBAuzItxBN
— kcranews (@kcranews) July 21, 2025
Myers joined the San Joaquin Delta College POST Academy, where he spent 10 months undergoing physically demanding training, according to the outlet. “I’m old enough to be the grandpa,” he joked, adding that the physical portion — including push-ups, sit-ups and stair running — was the most intimidating.
Letecia Infante, the academy coordinator, admitted she had concerns at first. “Seeing someone as old as he is, my fear initially went to there is no way he is going to make it,” she said. But Myers proved otherwise, graduating with Class 5724 in November. Representatives for POST Academy told the outlet that he is thought to be the oldest police recruit in state history.
He applied to the University of the Pacific’s police department with a handwritten letter, according to Police Chief Grant Bedford. “I got a letter, snail mail letter, right, who does that anymore,” Bedford said.
” It starts off, ‘please don’t throw this letter away when you learn I’m 70 years old; I want to get a job with you.’ I was in shock. I was like, ‘I have to meet this guy,’” the police chief continued.
Bedford met with Myers, conducted a thorough background check and accepted his application. The 78-year-0ld does the overnight shift on campus while continuing to teach in the daytime.
“You can call this retirement if you want,” Myers said. “It’s my version of retirement.”