Since embarking on his new career path in March, Curt Logan has been called "the old man" or even "grandpa."

Officer Curt Logan used to own a pet store in Granada Hills, but given the state of the economy, he decided to get into law enforcement. Now, Logan is set to begin his new career as one of L.A. s finest. (John McCoy/Daily News Staff Photographer)

Beginning today, he'll be known as Officer Curt Logan.

At 47, the North Hills resident will be the oldest of nearly five dozen cadets graduating from the Los Angeles Police Academy.

"This is probably the biggest accomplishment of my life," Logan said. "At the badge ceremony (last month) I kind of teared up. It's very emotional."

And Logan's completion of the rigorous LAPD training is not a surprise, though it might seem a big career leap for the former owner of the Pet Zone store in Granada Hills.

"Adam 12" was his favorite television show when he was growing up, and he's accompanied officers on numerous ride-alongs in the San Fernando Valley. He's also well-versed in the lingo of the station house, as illustrated by the incident that prompted his decision to finally pursue his lifelong dream.

"One day I was driving to work at the pet store and I saw some guys breaking into a house. There was also a guy in a lookout car," Logan recalled.

The guy in the car took off. Logan followed and called 911. The guy sped north on Balboa Boulevard heading for Interstate 5.

Officers were dispatched and they caught the driver and three others back at the house.

Logan then called his friend, Sgt. Walter Hannah, at the West Valley Division.

"I just caught four 459 suspects," Logan told Hannah, invoking the three-digit code police use to signify a burglary.

Of course, a mid-career change like this demands sacrifice and dedication. Aging, seldom-used muscles need to be toned.

During the 10-month application process, Logan took advantage of a program that helps candidates get in shape. He worked out for three hours, two nights a week, before entering the academy in March.

Now he's in the best shape of his life. He dropped from 217 to 180 pounds -- what he weighed when he graduated from Birmingham High School. Push-ups are no problem now, either.

"I can whip out, like, 50," Logan said.

Despite his preparation, physical training at the academy was intense, as was the verbal indoctrination.

"Everybody razzed me. I don't think too many people expected me to make it," Logan said. "There were times when I definitely felt like quitting. But I didn't have a job to go back to. I'd sold my store."

Sgt. Irma Krish, a member of the LAPD's training division, said several recruits have been in their 50s, but she did not know the age of the oldest graduate.

But there are not that many applicants as old as Logan.

"My husband was 43 when he came through and he was the top PT (physical training) person in his class," she said. "When we do get them, they can do just as well as anybody else. Usually what stops them is an injury."

Logan's new career will officially start at 6 p.m. Monday, working patrol on the overnight shift at the West Valley Station. After a lifetime spent in the San Fernando Valley, that assignment suits him just time.

"I wanted to do that," he said. "I know these streets."