A police officer and a 911 dispatcher as husband and wife could be the plot of a romantic comedy, but for Omar and Shannon Ashford, it’s everyday life—at least it was until Omar recently retired after a 30-year career in the police force.
Omar and Shannon met at a mutual friend’s home when they were in their early twenties. They were both in other relationships at the time and didn’t end up dating until many years later, when their paths crossed and they were both single. “We reconnected 12 years ago and haven’t been apart since. We got engaged at Vic Stewart’s in Walnut Creek and were married on October 11th, 2014. Our reception was held at the Blackhawk Country Club, where we were surrounded by 200 members of our family and closest friends,” says Shannon.
The couple were both born and raised in Oakland. Omar graduated from Oakland High School, and Shannon from Bishop O’Dowd High School. Shannon moved to Blackhawk with her parents in 1987 and always wanted to return to the area with her own family.
The police force attracted Omar from a young age. While in high school, he volunteered as a police explorer with the city of Oakland. After graduation, the Oakland Police Department hired Omar as a police cadet while he attended Merritt College in Oakland. He rose through the ranks, was promoted to lieutenant, and served the city for 30 years. As of last August, he officially retired.
Shannon graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1995. “After college, I began a career in the mortgage business, and in 2007, after the mortgage crisis, I found myself back in the job market. At that time, my mother stumbled across an article about a shortage of 911 dispatchers. She thought that I had the disposition for the job, so I applied, and the Berkeley Police and Fire Department hired me. For the last 15 years, I worked as a public safety dispatcher, and earlier this year, I transitioned to 311 with the City of Berkeley to spend more time with my family and raise our 8-year-old daughter,” says Shannon.
Omar and Shannon’s 8-year-old daughter, Giuliana, attends St. Isidore School and is currently in the third grade. The family also attends church at St. Isidore’s. “Giuliana has been dancing at Next Step since the age of three and has played a couple of seasons with Mustang Soccer. This year, she is looking forward to playing CYO basketball with the St. Isidore’s girls team,” says Omar.
Two adult sons complete the family. Twenty-five-year-old Kaelan is a graduate of Morehouse College. He works as a creative strategist for Major League Baseball in Manhattan, New York. Twenty-two-year-old Bryce is in the Air Force and stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. Lastly, as seen on the cover of the magazine, Sugar, a beautiful, fun-sized 3-year-old Malti-Poo brings loads of joy to the household.
Giving back to the community is a top priority for the Ashford family. Shannon is a member of the Contra Costa County Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, which is a philanthropic African American mothers organization.
With Omar’s recent retirement, he has enjoyed taking advantage of the Blackhawk Country Club’s amenities. “I enjoy working out at the gym at the Sports Complex early in the morning, and after a reintroduction to tennis from staff at the Sports Complex, I’m brushing up on my physical skills, and I am looking forward to getting out there for fun and exercise. I’m also a die-hard Raider’s football fan and enjoy watching other sports as well,” says Omar. Giuliana and Shannon also enjoy the club activities. “Our daughter participates in summer camp and takes swimming, tennis, and golf lessons at the club.
I have recently joined Blackhawk Women’s Group and look forward to making connections with the women in the organization,” says Shannon.
Traveling is a favorite pastime, and the Ashfords enjoy visiting Mexico and Hawaii, but lately, with an 8-year-old adding to the travel decisions, the destination of choice has been Disneyland.
No matter where they visit, Omar and Shannon say they are always happy to come home to Blackhawk. “We live in the main gate on Quail Run Dr. and have lived there for nine years. After spending my high school and college years at home in Blackhawk, I knew that this was where I wanted to live, and it had always been one of my future goals. We love the safety aspect and quietness of our neighborhood, and we feel blessed to be able to live in such a beautiful neighborhood, and we absolutely love it.
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By Megan Scott, Resident since 2010
Images courtesy of Ashford Family