UMO Alumnus Isaiah Olive Named Wilmington PD Rookie of the Year
April 1, 2026
Contact: Rhonda Jessup, Director of Public Relations
WILMINGTON, NC — When Officer Isaiah Olive learned he had been named Rookie of the Year by the Wilmington Police Department, his reaction was not celebration, but gratitude. “I was very appreciative and caught off guard,” Olive said. “It really was not even a thought. I was just doing what I know how to do.”
On March 13, at the Wilmington Convention Center, Olive was formally honored for his service. While he acknowledged the award carried weight, he quickly redirected the focus. “It means a lot to me personally, and professionally it will follow me throughout my career,” he said. “The award raises expectations I have for myself. But, I am not incredibly passionate about awards. I just do my job and enjoy it, and that is enough for me.”
Born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, Olive said his foundation was built at home. By his freshman year of high school, he already knew he wanted to pursue law enforcement. “I wanted to chase bad guys and do a job that not many are willing to do,” he said.
As a young man with tattoos and piercings, Olive recognized early that he did not fit the traditional image many associate with policing. Rather than resist that reality, he embraced it. “A lot of people look at you and make snap judgments based on your appearance,” he said. “It was important to me to change the way people viewed law enforcement and show the community that someone who looks like me can accomplish great things in this field.”
That perspective grows from his faith, something that shapes both his life and his work. Many of his tattoos reflect that foundation, including one of his favorite verses, Philippians 4:13. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” His upbringing in church and the lessons taught by his parents continue to guide him. “When things get stressful, I pray about it,” Olive said. “Sometimes it’s before a call, sometimes it’s after. I keep it between me and God.”
In a profession that often places officers in difficult and emotional situations, that grounding has become essential. Olive admits that some of the hardest moments are not the high-adrenaline calls, but the quieter ones. “My weak spot is kids,” he said. “You see situations that aren’t the best for them, and you just say a quick prayer and hope something changes for them.”
Olive’s path was further shaped at the University of Mount Olive, where he attended on a wrestling scholarship and graduated in 2024 with a degree in Criminal Justice. Balancing athletics, academics, and personal life prepared him for the structure and discipline required in policing.
He credits both the classroom and the mat for that preparation. His professors, many with real-world law enforcement and legal experience, emphasized the importance of the court process, report writing, and organization. “It’s one thing to make an arrest,” Olive said. “It’s another thing to articulate it, submit your evidence, and follow it all the way through.”
Wrestling, however, may have left the deepest imprint. “It’s mentally and physically grueling,” he said. “You go through all that work for just a few minutes on the mat. You learn how to deal with highs and lows.” That experience, he believes, translates directly into his career. “Once you’ve been through that, when you face stress out here, you’ve already been there before in a different way.”
After graduation, Olive completed the police academy and quickly transitioned into patrol. He still remembers his first shifts. “My heart dropped in the passenger seat, but I couldn’t stop smiling,” he said.
What began as adrenaline has since been shaped by experience. There is no routine in patrol work, he explained. “The only thing for certain is lineup. After that, each day and each call is different.” Some calls require enforcement. Others require conversation. Olive has learned that not every situation ends with an arrest. “Sometimes it’s just talking to someone,” he said. “You don’t always know what someone is going through or what you said that might help them.”
He has come to understand that impact is not always visible in the moment. “I’ve had people tell me later that something I said helped them,” he said. “You don’t realize it at the time, but it matters.” That mindset carries into his work in the community, including time spent with youth at the MLK Center. “It’s important to me to be a positive role model,” he said. “Someone they can relate to.”
While the physical demands of the job are significant, Olive says the emotional weight can be even greater. “When you see the worst on a regular basis, it can become normal,” he said. “You have to remember that when someone calls, it’s one of the most stressful moments of their life.”
That awareness continues to shape his approach. “Just having a badge doesn’t make you a good officer,” Olive said. “Work ethic, character, and being able to relate to people matter.”
Looking ahead, Olive hopes to continue building his experience on patrol and eventually join a specialized unit. His immediate goal is to try out for the Cape Fear Regional Special Teams (SWAT) team.
When his name was called at the Rookie of the Year ceremony, Olive said the moment represented more than recognition. “It represented continuing to bring the best version of myself in everything that I do,” he said.
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University was founded by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. For more information, visit www.umo.edu.
