Upon high school graduation, Stueland realized he could achieve his life-long desire and commitment to be a police officer through enlistment and training in the Marine Corps.
Three years later, after completing his duty in San Diego, and working as a groundman at the Southern California Edison Co., Stueland joined the Chino Police Department, where he worked for 30 years until retiring. He said it was extremely gratifying knowing he was making his community a better, safer place to live all those years.
It’s this mindset that propelled Stueland, even after retirement, to seek out additional ways to be active and make a difference in his community.
After retiring from the police department, Stueland was active in a number of roles, including working as the director of security for the Ontario Convention Center, serving as a groundskeeper at Guaftee Regional Park and teaching a regional occupational program at the local high school level. At each job he was able to see the impact of his work, improving living conditions for local residents.
These days, Stueland keeps busy as a recreation volunteer with the San Bernardino National Forest Service.
Last December, Stueland and his fellow volunteers collected all the cans they picked up in the forest for a total of $1,100 in recycling cash, which they then donated to a local San Bernardino church’s “Bicycles for Kids” program. With the money, the church was able to purchase 360 bikes that were given to kids on the Saturday before Christmas. He said there is nothing like seeing the happy faces of children opening presents for Christmas—and that is why they are doing it again this year.
When asked what the most rewarding part is about living a life of service, Stueland says, “It is rewarding to help the community get a job done that they wouldn’t have been able to complete otherwise. Plus, you actually get to see those results and how they make a difference every day.