PHOTO BY LISA CARNLEY LPD motorcycle officers Dean Werlinger, left, and Tony Barrio are patrolling the streets. Werlinger is a full-time motorcycle officer, while Barrio will fill in as needed. Dean Werlinger is living the dream of every little boy who ever wanted to be a fireman or policeman when he grows up -- and he's been both.

And now, the Lampasas native and Kempner resident spends his days riding a motorcycle while being a policeman.

Werlinger serves as the first full-time motorcycle officer for the Lampasas Police Department. He follows in the footsteps of friend and fellow officer Tony Barrio, who rides his personal motorcycle -- at his expense -- for special events, parades and funeral escorts for the LPD.

Barrio brought his experience as one of four initial motorcycle officers for the Copperas Cove Police Department to Lampasas. He is a patrol sergeant for the LPD with six years on the local force.

"I have such a great life," said Werlinger. "I have been lucky enough to get to do what I do, and I have had the opportunity to go places and do things that a lot of Lampasas kids haven't. I've had a colorful life. " Werlinger credits his parents with instilling in him the importance of education and a work ethic that had him volunteering for the Lampasas Volunteer Fire Department at age 16.

But, he also acknowledges that Lampasas Police Chief Tim Angermann allowed him to live out his most recent dream of joining the police force at an age when most are contemplating retirement.

And Werlinger did think about retirement -- for a short time.

After a 27-year career with the Killeen Fire Department, Werlinger, who retired as a lieutenant, had planned to attend arson investigator school until the KFD's lack of financial resources nixed that idea.

Arson investigators must be licensed peace officers.

So at age 49, Werlinger attended the Killeen Police Academy. While fellow firefighters filled his shifts during the week to allow him to attend classes, Werlinger worked their weekend shifts to help support his family.

"I was the oldest cadet in my class; I was almost 50 years old, I was out of shape, and I had no clue what I was getting myself into," he said. "On the first day we had to do a two-mile run. It was grueling."

Nearly 400 classroom and training hours later, Werlinger has earned his peace officer certification -- all while serving as a firefighter for Killeen.

When the arson investigation avenue closed, Werlinger realized he had to keep up his police officer certification. He approached Angermann about a reserve officer position and served in that capacity for 11 months.

At the time, Werlinger's brother-in-law, Benito Uvalle, was a patrol sergeant for the local police department, and rules did not permit relatives to work together.

When Uvalle left the police department for the Lampasas County Sheriff's Department, Werlinger gave his two-week retirement notice to the Killeen Fire Department and applied for a full-time position with the LPD in August 2006.

"I knew it was getting close to my retirement, but I wasn't sure how I would know when it was the right time," said Werlinger. "I asked (former) Fire Chief Rodney Fisher, and he said he couldn't tell me when it was time to retire, but he said the day I decided on it, I would know it."

That day came when Werlinger and fellow firefighters responded to a house fire. "It was 103 degrees outside, and I was sweating something terrible after three hours of fighting the fire in this 700-square-foot house.

"I saw one of my academy classmates standing under an oak tree, drinking a soda and just watching, and here I was sweating so badly. I knew then it was time to retire. I had enough."

But it wasn't time to retreat. Werlinger had other plans. That's when the Lampasas Police Department's doors opened to him.

"I've seen so many people retire and do menial jobs and just become bored with their lives," he said. "I didn't want that. I had too many years of working too hard to slow down and after 27 years of adrenalin rushes, I knew I wasn't through yet. I still needed that excitement."

Fire service has always been his first love -- beginning when he volunteered in 1972 as a dispatcher in Lampasas. Werlinger then entered the U.S. Air Force and spent four years as a firefighter on active duty and three years on active USAF Reserves.

"It's been a colorful career. I've seen a lot of things most people never will, and I've gone to a lot of places most people only dream about."

Werlinger said he is thankful to Angermann for letting "an old guy like me achieve another one of his dreams. I really appreciate that."

The local Police Department had tossed around the idea of a fulltime motorcycle traffic officer for about a year before it came to fruition.

The position was open to all applicants, and Werlinger got the job.

Barrio found two 2008 Harley Davidson Electra Glides that were purchased from the Cibolo Police Department when its program folded.

Each is outfitted with lights, sirens and radar; purchased new they would have cost nearly $23,000 apiece. Cibolo officials offered to sell the motorcycles to Lampasas for just over $14,000 each (an incredible offer, said Barrio), and after City Council approval and support from City Manager Michael Stoldt, the purchase was made.

Now Barrio and Werlinger use them to patrol city streets.

Though he is an experienced cycle rider, Werlinger said he was not prepared for the arduous twoweek motorcycle training in Corpus Christi, led by a retired California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer, and retired police officers from Sacramento and Houston.

Barrio completed a similar course in Dallas earlier in his career.

Trainees spent eight hours a day at the Corpus Christi school. Of the 80 total hours, only two were in the classroom -- the bulk of studies were training exercises.

"We were taught how to control the cycle at low and high speeds, fast maneuvering and to pay attention to what's around you. People aren't looking for you when you're out there, so you have to constantly be aware, look for them and learn how to take evasive action."

Since starting full-time motorcycle patrol, Werlinger is enjoying riding and enforcing the law. "I love what I do. Some days I look up and realize my shift is over in a half-hour, and I haven't even filled out my paperwork yet. Lots of times I work right through lunch. I have a hard time coming off the motorcycle, and I get so busy and don't pay attention to the time."

Though the officer said he becomes more comfortable each day with his new duties, he looks back on his first days on the streets.

"On my first day on the bike I made about four or five traffic stops, and I can remember being very nervous. I kept wondering if the people I stopped could tell I was nervous, and I was thinking `just don't drop the bike.'"

The public has responded well to a motorcycle officer patrolling the streets, Werlinger said. "Lampasas people are nice. If you stop them and they have been speeding, they know why you stopped them, and they know what's coming."

Though the bulk of his duties are traffic enforcement, he said he doesn't hide from traffic.

"I realized sitting on a motorcycle and holding a laser radar that I was gaining compliance rather than giving tickets.

"I sit in plain sight because I want people to see me. I want to gain that compliance, and if my presence causes people to slow down and comply with the law, then I'm doing my job. It's not all about revenue. It's about compliance. But if you're breaking the law, I'm going to stop you."

Werlinger and Barrio encourage the public to contact the Police Department if they encounter a specific traffic complaint. "We will target that area," said Barrio. "We are here for the public, and we want people to know we will help them."

Werlinger echoed those sentiments. "A good day for us is not having to write any traffic citations."

His wife is a 10-year detective with the Killeen Police Department, and her retirement won't come for at least another decade. That suits Werlinger just fine. "I have a hard time looking down the road and seeing myself retired. But when I do look back, I know I will realize that I have had a good life and a good career. "It's been a heck of a rodeo," he said.

And apparently, Werlinger's not ready to dismount that horse any time soon.

He hopes his next adventure includes buying a small airplane. A licensed pilot, he earned his certification at age 47. "That's always been on the back burner, and I love to fly."

Whoever coined the phrase "life begins after 50" must have had Officer Dean Werlinger in mind.