Michael Barone went to the police academy at the same time he was taking classes at Western New England College School of Law.

"It was a prodigious endeavor," Barone, 50, an Albany lieutenant and 20-year department veteran, told Law Beat, his accent reflecting his Brooklyn-born roots and upbringing in Valley Stream, Long Island.

Now the one-time Army paratrooper, the son of a New York City sanitation worker, is trying another difficult endeavor: Running for Albany City Court while working his familiar role with the department.

Barone is one of seven candidates running to fill three City Court vacancies in a Democratic primary – but the only one to possess a police lieutenant's badge along with a law degree.

"I've seen all sides of the judicial system and there is a need for good competent defense attorneys, there is a need obviously for competent police officers and there is a need for competent jurists," he explained in an interview inside his office on Central Avenue.

"I believe what I bring to the table is not only can I take the law and interpret the law and fairly execute the duties of my office, but I have a fundamental understanding of what it is like out there on the street," he said. "I feel that I can do an excellent job as a judge."

Police officers have made the jump to the bench before. Albany County Court Judge William Carter is a former state trooper. Carter first held several other positions as a prosecutor and defense attorney.

Barone, a father of two, went to the University at Albany and decided to stay upstate. He is one of three attorneys on the Albany police force (the other two are Lt. Josiah Jones and Lt. Paul Forkeutis). He said he always hoped to hold an attorney position within the department as an assistant chief of legal affairs. No position exists in Albany.

Barone has already been working as a law guardian since 2006. He serves on the executive committee of the criminal justice section of the state Bar Association. He certainly would not be coming in cold.

Barone is hardly hiding from his day job. All one needs to do to know that fact is look at his campaign Facebook page where the candidate is identified as "Lieutenant Barone" no less than 11 times in the biography section.

"The reality is we're one of the 15 model agencies in the country. I'm a proud member of the Albany police department," said Barone, who showed no lack of confidence for the primary. "When I end my career here it's going to be sad for me to actually leave, but I'm moving on to a new chapter in my life."

Barone said he will, if elected, absolutely be objective presiding on cases involving police. He said officers are not above the law – and noted he teaches police on issues such as search and seizure.

"It's better to lose a case than to perjure yourself on the stand," he said, "because one cop, one police officer that makes a mistake? There are mistakes of the head and mistakes of the heart and there are outright criminals. There are police officers that are criminals. There is good and bad in every profession."

If Barone was a federal law enforcement officer or his salary was funded entirely by federal funds, he would be prohibited from running. The Office of Special Counsel, a federal entity, makes that clear that under the Hatch Act. Barone faces no restriction running or from having a campaign that receives donations.

Barone's fundraising figures (made available last week when the latest state Board of Elections numbers were released) showed he has raised $14,750 – all his own money but for one $250 donation.

The other candidate, meanwhile, are incumbents Helena Heath, Holly Trexler and John Reilly, county Alternate Public Defender Sherri Brooks, Assistant Public Defender LaVonda Collins and defense lawyer James Long.