Mervin Franks:  

In 1958 after graduating from Castlemont, I attended San Jose State College for two years majoring in Police Science. In August 1960 after depleting my funds for school, I went to work at Capwell's Department Store in Oakland as a salesman in Men's Sportswear. In June 1962, I entered Capwell's Management Training Program and my first assignment as a trainee was Linens and Domestics as a Head of Stock and later an Assistant Department Manager. In May 1964 I was promoted to Department Sales Manager and administratively transferred to Housewares and Major Appliances in Hayward until I left for the CHP in December 1965. I still look back on my time at Capwell's with fond memories, this was a great company to work for, surrounded by wonderful people, truly a memorable time in my life. In September 1961, I attended Oakland Police Department's Academy for Reserve Police Officer. I served as a Reserve Police Officer until 1964 when I was promoted to Sergeant. In December 1965 I resigned from both Capwell's and OPD as a Reserve Police Officer when I entered the CHP Academy. In December 1965 I entered the California Highway Patrol Academy in Sacramento and upon graduation after 16 weeks of training, I reported to the San Leandro CHP office. In 1971, I was assigned to Zone III in San Francisco, later to be named Golden Gate Division, to work on a special CHP project. This assignment required me to travel from Santa Rosa to Monterey, working in a different area daily for the next eight years. When this program ended in August 1979, I returned to the Hayward Area until 1984. In January 1984, I was promoted to Sergeant and assigned to the East Los Angeles Area for four months. Later that year, I transferred to the San Jose Area and in 1987 to the Hayward Area until my retirement in December 1994, following 29 years of service. During my tenure with the CHP, I was also assigned to the CHP's Protective Services Unit and assigned to work in concert with the United States Secret Service in planning motorcades and security for both visiting dignitaries and heads of state. In 1983 Golden Gate Division's Protective Services Unit was awarded the California Highway Patrol Commissioner's Unit Citation and a Commendation from the Director of the United States Secret Service for exceptional achievements and exemplary performance in dignitary protection. I was also selected by my supervisors to be a FTO (Field Training Officer) to new officers assigned to our area upon graduation from the academy. I was also selected to serve as a DRE (Drug Recognition Expert) and after additional training served in this capacity during my career on the CHP. In 1972 I received my Standard Designated Teaching Credential from the State of California which allowed me to instruct students at the Adult Education and Community College level. As a part time instructor for the Castro Valley School District, I taught Driver Improvement classes at Canyon High School in the evenings, twice a week, for 12 years. These classes were made available to drivers through the Hayward/San Leandro Municipal Court who wanted to keep their traffic violation off their driving record. These drivers were able to exercise this option only once, this program is known to most of us as attending "Traffic School". In 1975 I obtained my Private Pilot's License (VFR) after taking the required hours of flyin...Expand for more