NEDERLAND — Sometimes you just need to take a leap of faith in order to follow your dreams.

That’s what recently sworn-in Nederland Police Officer Adam Arceneaux did.

Arceneaux was born in Nederland but “went to the other side,” he said, jokingly referring not to Star Wars or Darth Vader but Port Neches-Groves High School, the crosstown rivals of the city he proudly protects and serves.

Arceneaux was working as a conductor with a railroad in Louisiana when he decided to switch careers, adding law enforcement was always his passion.

“I left to pursue my dream job,” Arceneaux said.

Arceneaux is one of three new officers with Nederland Police Department, having gone through a special program sponsored by the city while attending Lamar Institute of Technology and working with the NPD.

Police Chief Gary Porter said Arceneaux, along with the other new officers, passed extensive interviews and met criteria to be able to be a peace officer with the city.

“They (officers) do a lot more than going out and enforcing the law,” Porter said. “He seems like a good team member in our community-oriented policing mindset.”

The new officers had to successfully complete a number of tests, state tests and rigorous field training and at any point, should they fail, would have been out of the program. This meant the new hires quit their jobs to go into a field they really wanted.

“It was a big investment, huge leap of faith and a whole lot of commitment,” Porter said.

Arceneaux has prior military experience, having spent nine years in the National Guard with five of those in active duty stateside, but through it all he kept the dream of becoming police officer.

“I guess I always had an interest in wanting to help people,” Arceneaux said.

As for the future, he’s looking forward to being on patrol and getting to know the citizens and community.