Nov. 2, 2007 — Fifteen police academy graduates took an oath to "protect, serve and enforce" during a commencement ceremony Friday at Government House in Christiansted.
"As police officers you are the ambassadors for the entire territory," said Police Commissioner James McCall, as more than 175 friends and family members looked on.
After the new recruits stated their names, they took their oath and had their badge pinned on by Deputy Chief Raphael Bramble. Marshal Santiago Garcia, III was pinned by his father, a retired Superior Court marshal.
The graduating class was made up of 11 police officers, three Superior Court marshals and one enforcement officer for the Department of Health. The class — an intense 19-week course with classes on ethics, academics, rules on search and seizure, CPR, marksmanship and physical fitness — began with a field of 22 students.
"These officers have the ability to follow the right path and practice ethics and integrity 24 hours a day," said FBI agent and ethics instructor Dennis Kinney.
Awards for academic excellence were given to Ruchella Samuel and Wanson Harris. Omar Henry and Nicholas Miller received awards for excellence in physical fitness. A firearms award was presented to Wayne Jeffers.
The new officers showed their appreciation to instructors by presenting them with plates from Jan Mitchell Studio. Miller said his father taught him to to stay out of trouble by keeping his hands busy with woodcrafts. Miller presented instructors with finely detailed clocks and a lamp made from popsicle sticks that he had handcrafted.
"We ask for everyone's continued support as we enter the world of law enforcement," said class spokesman Joel Tutein.
Senior Training Cadre Officer Gleston McIntosh told the new recruits they need to change the tarnished image of the V.I. Police Department. "Change has to start now," McIntosh said. He also told the new officers that trust is a major issue for police.
Commissioner McCall told the new officers to cultivate relationships with the attorney general's office, to carry a pocket dictionary, to take pride in reports written, to always tell the truth, and lastly to never violate the trust the community has placed in them.
Gov. John P. deJongh told the officers — the first police academy graduates during his term — that expectations for the new officers are extremely high. "The condition of our communities depends on you," deJongh said.
"I'm very proud Joel chose such an honorable profession. I encouraged him to go into the V.I.P.D. This is our families way of contributing," said Joel Tutein, director of the National Park Services and father of the new graduate. "Changes in attitude starts with good people," he said.
The members of the graduating class are Keisha Benjamin, Shana Cannegieter, Yahya Daniel, Omar Henry, Rodolfo Jacobs, Francis Williams, Wayne Jeffers, Ruchella Samuel, Noel John Tirado, Joel Tutein, Zara James, Santiago Garcia III, Nicholas Miller, Ronald Rogers and Wanson Harris.
"I always wanted to be an officer, and it's a dream come true," Jacobs said. Officer Henry summed it all up saying "First of all, servants of all."
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