Double amputee becomes Fort Worth police officer

One of Fort Worth's newest police officers is living proof that disabilities are no barrier to achievement.

Ever since he was a teenager growing up in Fort Worth, Zach Briseno, 35, had wanted to become a police officer.

But before he could achieve that goal, Briseno joined the Marine Corps and did two tours of Iraq.

On November 29th, 2007, his vehicle was hit by an IED, with the blast striking the vehicle beneath the seat where he was sitting.

As a result of the blast, Briseno had to have both of his legs amputated below the knee.

Undeterred, Briseno was still determined to achieve his life-long goal of becoming a police officer; and last Friday, he was one of 24 graduates in the Fort Worth Police Department's latest academy class.

"At a young age, in my teenage years, I was an explorer in the Fort Worth Police Department," says Ofc. Briseno. "And I had a lot of great mentors there who really showed me (that) this is what I want to be like after the Marines -- I want to serve my country and then I want to come back and serve my community."

Briseno is only the second double amputee police officer in the country.

"You can do anything you want to do. You just have to really put the work in for it. It may cost you some blood, sweat and tears; but if you want it bad enough, you can do it.