PURCHASE- Fifty-eight recruits recently graduated from the Westchester County Police Academy and are headed off to work at 15 law enforcement agencies in Westchester and one in Putnam.
The new officers, who completed 21 weeks of training at the police academy in Valhalla, received their diplomas before a packed house at the SUNY Purchase Performing Arts Center.
County Executive George Latimer, Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins and Acting Public Safety Commissioner Terrance Raynor presented the graduates of the 156th Session of Basic Recruit School with their diplomas and congratulated them for mastering the physical and academic demands of the Academy.
Latimer described law enforcement as a calling, not just a job or a career, and he saluted the graduates for being willing to put themselves in harm’s way to serve their communities.
“It is my responsibility, and the responsibility of elected officials, to have your back. We must provide you at budget time with the resources and equipment, sufficient manpower, and all of the things you need in order to be successful. That’s what I think about — how I can make sure that the decisions we make are backing you up,” said Latimer.
Invoking the words of the national anthem, he said, “We can only be the land of the free because of the brave.”
Raynor urged the graduates to treat all members of the public with fairness and respect in the performance of their duties.
“The state of policing in this country demands that you embrace the concept of police and community working together. I encourage you to engage your communities with humility and respect. Treat people with fairness and empathy, no matter their race, religion or socio-economic status. Converse with others the way you would like your loved ones spoken to. The instruction you received at the Academy enables you to be the guardians your community seeks,” said Raynor.
