CJ instructor brings experience
“I was raised in rural San Diego, California,” states Richard Walton, College of Eastern Utah’s newest member of the criminal justice department. “I attended Humboldt State College in the Redwoods and graduated in 1969 with degree in Natural Resource Conservation. During the last two years of school I joined a reserve police officer program and decided on a career in law enforcement.”
This archived article was written by: Lindsey Sweat
“I was raised in rural San Diego, California,” states Richard Walton, College of Eastern Utah’s newest member of the criminal justice department. “I attended Humboldt State College in the Redwoods and graduated in 1969 with degree in Natural Resource Conservation. During the last two years of school I joined a reserve police officer program and decided on a career in law enforcement.”
Walton describes himself as a, “cast-iron-covered marshmallow, I just can’t say no at times. I love the outdoors: camping, horseback riding, shooting sports and hunting, and riding my Harley.” He confesses to his favorite vacation spot being, “Everywhere, I always like to see what’s around the next bend … ”
Walton sums up the last few years of his life stating, “I joined the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy in 1971 and was promoted to position of district attorney investigator in 1987. I had extensive experience in homicide, felony crimes and especially white-collar investigations, fraud and elder abuse. I earned my master’s degree in education from University of San Francisco in 1978 and returned to school to get my doctorate in 2001, earning a doctor of education from USF in 2005. I subsequently wrote a textbook on cold case homicide investigation, and joined the CEU family in July of this year.”
“I had a variety of experiences as do most officers, but survived. I especially enjoyed working cases against con men that preyed on elderly citizens and putting them in jail where they belonged. The last three years of my career were spent in investigations addressing child support, and I learned a lot about what people will do to avoid and evade taking care of their children. Despite all that I saw in my career, I never ceased to learn something new everyday in this area. I travelled extensively at times, working these cases and enjoyed it immensely.”
“The camaraderie, meeting fellow investigators in agencies all around the nation and the friendships that have evolved,” are Walton’s favorite memories from working in the police department. “Many of these came back to help when I wrote the book. Law enforcement can be a wonderful career, and while there were good days and bad days, I can truthfully say that there was never a day when I said ‘I hate my job, I don’t want to go to work today.’ Not a lot of people can say that … ”
After retirement and graduation, he lived in San Diego. Walton explains his reason for moving to Price and changing his career to teaching, “I love working with young people, and after a lifetime of working in the professional field, I wanted to bring what I know to the classroom to help others learn. I am a small town person at heart. I lived in Kanab and spent a lot of time around Panguitch growing up, and truly feel I have come ‘home’ to Price.”
Job responsibilities for Walton at CEU include, “Teaching criminal justice courses: introduction to criminal justice, criminal law, laws of evidence and criminal investigation. We are also designing and setting up some training programs for law enforcement and emergency services as well for the future. I also serve as an adviser to the CEU criminal justice club.”
Walton’s goals while being at CEU are, “To teach and to learn, to help others and perhaps be involved in expanding and developing new programs and areas of study.” He expresses his feelings about the school since arrival. “There is nothing I do not enjoy, it is like an extended family here, everyone is so friendly and helpful and has made me feel immediately at home.”
