Local Student Hopes To Transition from Preparing DJ Systems to Protecting Citizens

If you read Westford Patch frequently, you might already know Chris Hurst.

On our pages he’s been a , a , a , and an spokesperson for Westford Academy basketball and . But did you know that there is more to this young Westford resident?

Before graduating from Westford Academy to attend Salem State University, Hurst began working with a friend as a sound and light technician, a self-taught skill that has brought him experiences ranging from setting up DJ equipment at weddings to preparing events involving Tyra Banks as a part of a company called JT Productions.

He’s begun to see himself as something of an entrepreneur at his current position, but his eyes are set on another dream that he’s still working toward.

“I’ve known I’ve wanted to be a police officer since I was really small,” said Hurst. “I know almost all the Westford Police officers out there, I’ve done a lot of ride alongs with them, I’ve interned at every police department you can think of.  I talk quite a bit to them on a day to day basis on what they do, and I’m only more eager to become one.”

The lifelong dream gained additional purpose during his time at Westford Academy, after events like the Olivia Marchand shooting only added to his resolve to try and help protect people.

Eventually Hurst would like to get a job at the state or federal level in some kind of law enforcement, but he’d love a position as a police officer in the area, particularly here in Westford, although he’s not sure what he’d do if he had to choose.

“That’s a hard question to answer,” he said. “It would be tough to be a police officer in Westford because I know a lot of the people, but I know the roads like the back of my hand.  I would like to be a Police Officer in Westford, but I obviously won’t limit myself to here. Either way, Chief McEnaney has a great group of people he has working for him, and if I fit what he’s looking for, I’d love to work there.”

But no matter what the future holds for Hurst, he hopes that the experience he has as a sound technician can help him with the specific goal he has within the world of law enforcement: special operations.

“With the amount of equipment we use, it’s kind of similar to what they use, although they use them for different things,” he said.

More information on Hurst’s current job can be found at the JT Productions website.

NOTE: Corrections made per comments below. - 10:14 a.m.