Thirty-one police recruits graduated Friday from the Westchester County Police Academy and are headed off to work at 11 law enforcement agencies in Westchester and beyond.
The new officers, who completed 20 weeks of training at the police academy in Valhalla, received their diplomas during a ceremony at the Performing Arts Center of the State University of New York at Purchase.
County Executive Robert P. Astorino, Public Safety Commissioner George N. Longworth and District Attorney Janet DiFiore addressed the graduates of the 132nd Session Basic Police Recruit Class and wished them well in their careers.
Astorino congratulated the new officers on their hard work and thanked their family members for the support they will provide along the way. The irregular shifts and hours that are part of police work will be a sacrifice that an officer’s loved ones will make, the county executive said.
“There will be an empty chair at the table often when your family gathers for a birthday celebration or holiday meal. That’s because your loved one will be on the street protecting the rest of us,” he said. “We are grateful for the sacrifices you will make and for the love and support you will give to these new officers throughout their law enforcement careers.”
Longworth welcomed the new police officers to the law enforcement community and said that many challenges were ahead.
“You are now part of the police family, and with that great privilege comes great responsibility. You will stand with your brother and sister officers in keeping the peace, enforcing the law, protecting the innocent and confronting evil and those who would do us harm,” he said.
The graduates are:
Yonkers Police Department: Joseph Almeida, William Camperlengo, Anthony Cognatello, Elizabeth Courtien, Frank Didomizio, Darcy Drummond, Lorraine Fata, Jonathan Flood, Robin George, Trevor Goff, Reggie Irizarry, Amy Kielb, Kevin Madison, Marc Marinelli, Anthony Massey, Teigh Norwicki, Martin Peterson and Linda Rios.
Town of Mamaroneck Police Department: Nicholas Bizzarro.
Pelham Manor Police Department: Andrew Leal.
Village of Ossining Police Department: Patrick McGovern.
Mount Pleasant Police Department: Thomas Olsen.
Yorktown Police Department: Lauren Rodriguez.
Tuckahoe Police Department: Francisco Valencia.
Westchester County District Attorney’s Office: Robyn Arias.
New York County District Attorney’s Office: Brendan Gould and Ryan McCue.
Amtrak Police Department: David Figueroa, Jose Otero and James Tobin.
Rockville Centre Police Department: Nicholas DeLuca.
