Deputy to exchange badge for lesson plans

T.M. Casey has a lot of changes in store for the New Year.

On Friday, he will marry Hellie Dimitri. On Sunday, with the change of administration at the Carson City Sheriff's Department, Casey, 51, an intelligence officer there for eight

years and a 30-year veteran of law enforcement, will walk out the

doors to embark on another career: substitute teaching in the Carson City

School District.

"In the job I've had, I've had to give a lot of talks and things like that, and I've always been interested in teaching," he said.

Casey's father, a career FBI agent, moved the family there in 1962. Casey's career started there in 1972, as a juvenile detective.

He has also worked parole and probation and was assistant district

commander for the Mojave County Sheriff's Office in Bullhead City,

Ariz. Eventually, he said he came north "so I could ride my horses."

With law enforcement in his blood -- Casey admits he's wanted to be a

police officer since he was 5 years old -- he doesn't think he'll shake

his law background.

"I'm not really going to be there to turn kids around," he said. "I'm

going to be there to educate them, but at the same time, I'll have more

of a perspective of what's going on."

He said the part-time aspect of substitute teaching is ideal.

His days will be spent remodeling his home for his future stepchildren

Kurtis, 8, and Kellen, 10, and taking care of his five horses and five

dogs.

Casey heads the Mounted Posse and canine units and

in his off-time breeds and trains border collies.

With degrees in criminal justice and sociology, Casey's well suited for the role of general studies substitute teaching.

"It should be fun. I'm looking forward to it," he said.