This story was originally published on delawareo.com on September 20, 2013.
Delaware County has a new special deputy, but you might not want to make him angry. Lou Ferrigno, best known as The Hulk from the late 70s TV show The Incredible Hulk, was sworn in as special deputy at 11:30am by Sheriff Russell Martin.
Ferrigno’s main focus as a special deputy will be health and wellness, particularly that of fellow deputies. “It’s important to combine the mind and body as a team. It’s [the body’s] fitness is huge. I talk to deputies about working out and keeping in shape… It’s all about eating properly, training properly and sleeping properly,” he said. Ferrigno speaks frequently around the country on fitness and health, as well as his personal story of hearing loss and determination to get where he is today.
Ferrigno approached the Delaware County Sheriff’s office about joining forces after conversations with his friend, Morrow County Deputy Kim Denty. “We felt it would be the ideal sheriff’s department [to partner with] because of the integrity and the leadership here.” Throughout his remarks, Ferrigno emphasized the need for trust between deputies as well as in the community.
Nearly 10 years ago, he spent 6 months to complete the law enforcement academy and now serves as a Certified Law Enforcement Officer in two Southern California departments where he participates in search and rescue operations, motivational speaking in the academy, as well as other special tasks.
Sheriff Martin said that from his first phone call with Ferrigno, “genuineness and integrity came through there. We’re grateful he chose this office to partner with. We’re looking for a long term relationship to hopefully impact some people down the road.” There are a variety of possibilities for how Ferrigno can continue his relationship with the Department. He says he intends to join the deputies whenever he comes back through the area, possibly speaking in local prisons and jails to motivate inmates to change their life in addition to his work with deputies.