'Taken' stuntman turns local policeman

AIRWAY HEIGHTS - The Airway Heights Police department welcomed a new officer, Sebastien Vandenberghe, France, to the department on Monday, April 3.

"I am excited to have a new member of the team. We try to serve at the highest level possible. We like to protect our children, partners, and business. This will allow us to do more as we continue to grow on the west plains," said the Chief of the Airway Heights Police Department, Brad Richmond.

Vandenberghe was a Spokane County Sheriff's Office Deputy. Through a lateral transfer, Vandenberghe moved to the Airway Heights Department.

"An opportunity existed to facilitate a future, so he came to our team. We're growing so significantly that we always need more. Our community supports our public safety team at a great level," added Richmond.

Vandenberghe reports that after looking for a department and sheriff's office to serve, he met a few officers encouraging him to transfer.

"They were super nice and friendly. Some told me to work with them. After meeting the chief and lieutenant and seeing how nice the community and people were here, we moved," said Vandenberghe.

Vandenberghe and his wife met six years ago in Vegas and moved to the United States three years ago.

Vandenberghe originally came from France and worked as a Security Officer in the Paris Metro System while working as a part-time actor and stuntman for various films.

Vandenberghe started his acting career in 2009 and has acted in twenty-one films and was a stuntman for an additional twenty-two films.

"I was working law enforcement while in France, and I was invited to audition for "Taken" (2008). I showed some of my martial arts talents and started to work with them," he added.

His best-known roles and films he worked on include the "Taken" series with Liam Neeson and "3 Days to Kill."

He has an extensive background in mixed martial arts and can speak four languages.

"I am training like I was training every day back then," said Vandenberghe, "the training from being a stuntman helped me train for the academy."

Vandenberghe is the department's 23rd officer, maximizing the department's patrol staff.

He hopes to become a detective someday and a certified K-9 officer with the department.

"I was looking for a law enforcement family, and with the fire department, it's the same, so finding a second family for me after coming from France is what I love. I appreciate it," noted Vandenberghe.