* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [Austin 144th Cadet Class Austin Police Training Academy] [00:00:05] AWESOME POLICE DEPARTMENTS. I SPEND MY MONEY IN THE COMMISSION SHAREHOLDING OF THE 1 44 OF ACADEMY CLASS AT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT. IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO CELEBRATE YOUR GRADUATION, NEWEST POLICE OFFICERS WITH ALL THIS ON JUNE 7TH, 2021, 100 MEN AND WOMEN CAME TOGETHER FROM A VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS AND COMMUNITY TO UNDERGO THE TRAINING POLICE OFFICERS. THEY STARTED THE TWO WEEKS COMMUNITY CONNECT PROGRAM, WHICH FOCUSED ON HELPING THE CADETS, GET TO KNOW THE COMMUNITY AND RESIDENTS IN 32 WEEKS OF RIGOROUS ACADEMY TRAINING AS PART OF A 1 44 66 HAVE SUCCEEDED IN THEIR GOAL. THEY HAD MET PHYSICAL ACADEMIC AND ETHICAL STANDARDS AND WILL NOW HAVE A PRIVILEGE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF WEARING THE BADGE OF A POLICE OFFICER, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE STAND AND WALK ON THE GRADUATES OF THE 1 44 OF THEM CONNECT CLASS. THE PRESENTATION BY THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE PLANE. [00:06:53] ALL UNIFORM FOR THE INDICATION WHICH WILL BE DELIVERED. WE ESPECIALLY THANK YOU FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN. GOD, WE THANK YOU. PARTICULARLY FOR THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE RESPONDED TO THE CALL, WHEN MANY WOULD RETREAT DEEPER INTO THEIR OWN WORLD. THESE HAVE SHOWN THEIR DEDICATION TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY AND TO KEEPING US SAFE FROM THE MANY EXPRESSIONS OF EVIL THAT WOULD THREATEN OUR VERY EXISTENCE. GOD, THESE 66 SOULS HAVE COMPLETED EIGHT MONTHS OF RIGOROUS TRAINING HAVE DONE. SO WHILE UNDERGOING SOME OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS EVER KNOWN, WE REJOICE IN THEIR SUCCESS. THEY REPRESENT THE FACE OF MODERN POLICING AND THE COMMITMENT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH EQUITY AND COMPASSION. WE REJOICE WITH THEM THIS AFTERNOON IN THAT ACHIEVEMENT AND WELCOME THEM INTO THE APD COMMUNITY. THANK YOU LORD, FOR THE FAMILIES REPRESENTED HERE FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TO THESE NEW OFFICERS. WE PRAY YOUR BLESSING UPON EACH OF THEM ASSET, THEIR AND JOY TODAY WILL BE MULTIPLIED BY MANY YEARS OF SEEING THEIR SON OR DAUGHTER, HUSBAND, OR WIFE, BROTHER, OR SISTER, LIVING OUT THE PROMISE OF THEIR CALLING. GOD, WILL YOU PITCH THE MEMORIES OF THIS GRADUATION IN THE MINDS OF EVERYONE HERE, ESPECIALLY IN THE MINDS OF THESE NEW OFFICERS, MAY THEY LONG REMEMBER THE COMRADERY, THE SENSE OF EXCITEMENT AND THE CHALLENGE THEY EXPERIENCE HERE THIS AFTERNOON, AND MAY THAT MEMORY SERVE NOT ONLY TO GIVE THEM JOY, BUT TO REMIND THEM OF THE HIGH CALLING THEY HAVE RECEIVED, LET IT SERVE LORD TO ENCOURAGE THEM IN DISCOURAGING AT TIMES, AND MAY HAVE GIVEN THEM A TRUE NORTH TO THEIR PROFESSIONAL COMPASS THAT ALWAYS STEERS TO THE PATH OF RIGHT LORD. FINALLY, WE ARE SURROUNDED HERE TODAY BY THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED BEFORE IN THAT UNSEEN CONGREGATION OR THE 26 MEMBERS OF OUR APD FAMILY THAT PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR THEIR SERVICE, KEEP US LORD EVER MINDFUL OF THE LEGACY OF LONG SERVICE THAT THEY'VE ENTRUSTED TO US. AND MAY THAT LEGACY CONTINUE TO [00:10:01] GUIDE OUR THOUGHTS AND THE ACTIONS AS WE SERVE. LORD, THIS IS NOT A JOB PURSUING OUR LAST PASSION ISN'T CALLING. AND THAT CALLING IS YOUR GIFT TO US. WHAT WE DO IN THAT CALLING LORD IS OUR GIFT BACK TO YOU AND TO THE WORLD WE LIVE IN. SO BLESS EACH OF THESE MEN AND WOMEN WITH THE STRENGTH AND COURAGE OF THEIR CALLING. MAY THEY SERVE LONG AND WELL, AND WE ASK THAT YOU KEEP THEM IN PERFECT PEACE, WATCH OVER THEM EVERY DAY. SO THAT ONE DAY AFTER THEY'VE ENJOYED A LONG AND JOYFUL RETIREMENT, THEY MAY HEAR YOUS. WELL, WE ASKED THEM ALL OF THIS IN YOUR NAME. AMEN. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS. I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS TIME. UH, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT SOMEBODY, UH, EARLIER AND DEAR TO MY HEART AND FOR ALL OF OUR APD EMPLOYEES HERE, UH, SWORN AND CIVILIAN, IF YOU'VE BEEN HERE ANY TIME AT ALL, THEN YOU HAVE HEARD WRITTEN RANDALL MAN. IT'S MY RIGHT TO LIVE HER MANY APPLICATIONS, UH, AND DO MANY WONDERFUL THINGS HERE AT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT. BUT THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW TODAY IS GRACE LAST DAY. SO HE HAS RETIRED FROM THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AFTER, UM, A 23 YEAR DISTINGUISHED CAREER, WHICH WAS HIS SECOND CAREER. HE CAME UP IN AUSTIN, UM, AS A CHAPLAIN AND HAD A CHURCH AND WAS A PASTOR AND HAS PRESIDED AT MANY GRADUATIONS AT MANY FUNCTIONS, UH, NOT JUST FOR APD, BUT FOR, UM, FOR OTHER AGENCIES AS WELL. AND UNFORTUNATELY AT MANY, MANY FUNERALS, AS I SAID, THAT HE'S HAD 23 YEARS HERE, ARE THEY PD. HE STARTED OUR CHAPEL PROGRAM, WHICH IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND MOST SUCCESSFUL IN THE COUNTRY. NOW YOU WORKED AT THE ACADEMY FOR MANY YEARS, HELPING TO TRAIN CADETS. AND THEN WE BROUGHT THEM UP TO EXECUTIVE STAFF AND HE BEGAN AROUND THIS DIVISION AND WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST ROBUST AND IMPRESSIVE. QUITE HONESTLY, WE ALMOST DIVISIONS THAT APPEASE DEPARTMENT COULD HOPE FOR THAT, THAT IMPACT CAREERS AND FAMILIES AND THE LIVES OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN SWORN CIVILIAN. HE'S ALSO BEEN PART OF OUR HONOR GUARD AND HAS TRAVELED TO WASHINGTON DC MANY TIMES TO PUT THE NAMES ON THE WALL AND WE'LL DO IT AGAIN. IN MAY I CALL RICK A COLLEAGUE, I CALL HIM A PERSON THAT I HAVE KNOWN AND RESPECTED. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I CALL HIM MY FRIEND. AND, UM, IT IS, IT IS HONESTLY WITH, WITH GREAT SADNESS THAT I SAY GOODBYE TO HIM FROM THE APD, UH, YOU KNOW, WORKING AND SEEING HIM EVERY DAY. BUT AS RICK HAS PROMISED ME AND HOLDING TO THAT PROMISE IS THAT HE IS GOING TO REMAIN A PART OF OUR PROGRAM AS A VOLUNTEER CHAPLAIN AND IS GOING TO BE CONTINUED IN THE AREA OF US AND DOING SOME OTHER THINGS. SO RICK, UH, ON BEHALF OF EXECUTIVE STAFF AND ALL OF US HERE AT APD, AND WE WANTED TO PRESENT YOU WITH A, A TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION, UH, IT HAS WORK DATES, UH, AND REPRESENTS THE VARIOUS AREAS THAT YOU HAVE WORKED IN WHILE YOU'VE BEEN HERE AT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM 1999, UNTIL 2022. THANK YOU. MA'AM LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE COMMISSIONING AND GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR THE 1 44, BECAUSE THAT CLASS IS NOW UNDERWAY ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CHIEF OF POLICE, [00:15:01] JOSEPH CHUCKLE. I THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY ON THIS VERY SPECIAL OCCASION, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A SPECIAL THANKS TO GREAT HILLS BAPTIST CHURCH AND PASTOR DANNY FOR SHEA FOR THE USE OF THIS BEAUTIFUL FACILITY. I WOULD LIKE TO NOW RECOGNIZE THE DISTINGUISHED PERSONS ON THE STAGE AND IN THE AUDIENCE WHERE I'VE JOINED US FOR OUR COMMISSIONING CEREMONY. PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL THE FINAL INTRODUCTIONS. OUR MAYOR, STEVE ADLER, CITY MANAGERS, SPENCER CROP, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, OVER PUBLIC SAFETY RATE, ORIANA MAYOR PRO TEM, ALISON ALTER DISTRICT 10 COUNCIL MEMBER, NATASHA HARPER, MADISON DISTRICT ONE COUNCIL MEMBER, VANESSA QUINTUS DISTRICT TWO COUNCIL MEMBER MCKENZIE, KELO DISTRICT SIX, COUNCIL MEMBER PAIGE ELLIS DISTRICT EIGHT COUNCIL MEMBER, CATHERINE TOVO DISTRICT NINE FROM THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT. OUR VERY OWN CHIEF OF POLICE AND JOSEPH CHIEF OF STAFF, ROBIN HENDERSON, ASSISTANT CHIEF JAMES MASON, ASSISTANT CHIEF JERRY BASSANO, ASSISTANT CHIEF SCOTT PERIOD, ASSISTANT CHIEF KATHERINE JOHNSON, ASSISTANT CHIEF JASON STATE OF CHESTY, DR. ANNE PREMIUM, ADMIRAL BOBBY MR. COURTNEY JASTROW PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER AUSTIN CRIME COMMISSION. AND OF COURSE OUR VERY OWN CHAPLAIN, RICK RANDALL. I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES, THE APD COMMAND STAFF FOR JOINING US THIS AFTERNOON. THERE IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT I WISH TO RECOGNIZE, AND THAT IS THE STAFF OF THE RECRUITING AND TRAINING DIVISIONS. IT IS THROUGH THEIR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS OF THESE OFFICERS, SUPERVISORS AND CIVILIAN STAFF THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ASSEMBLE THIS GROUP OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED POLICE CADETS AND TRANSFORM THEM INTO OFFICERS IN THE FINEST POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE NATION. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE RISE AND REMAIN STANDING COMMANDER CURTIS KRAUS, LIEUTENANT J SWAMP, AND SERGEANT HEATHER ROBINSON OF THE RECRUITING UNIT, LIEUTENANT ROBERT BELL GENERATORS, SERGEANT MICHAEL SUTTON, CORPORAL ANDREW TIME-SAVING OF THE CADET TREATING YOU LIEUTENANT RICHARD EAGLE, SERGEANT JANE PACIFICAL AND CORPORAL MIREZ KEYWORD WITH THE LEARNED SKILLS UNIT LIEUTENANT CHRIS DAVIS, SERGEANT MICHAEL, WHEN ROW SERGEANT STEVE MAYERS AND SERGEANT JASON RAWSON OF THE ADVANCED EDUCATION UNIT ALSO WISH TO RECOGNIZE ACADEMY TRAINING TO PROVIDE HER PHILIP, BUT COULD THAT BE WITH US TODAY, BUT IT'S WATCHING ONLINE. I'D ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR INCREDIBLE STAFF, VERONICA FARE, TRACY WALKLEY, ARNAR, AND AARON LARK. ALONG WITH THESE SUPERVISORS WERE ALL MEMBERS OF THE RECRUITING AND TRAINING DIVISIONS. PLEASE STAND THAT YOU RECOGNIZE THE MEMBERS OF THE RECRUITING AND TRAINING DIVISIONS REPRESENT THE BEST OF THE BEST. THANK YOU. OKAY. TODAY IS A CELEBRATION OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE 66 CADETS SEATED IN FRONT OF ME AND THE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE THIS DAY POSSIBLE. THESE CADETS SET THEIR GOALS AND SUCCEEDED IN COMPLETING THE MOST PHYSICALLY INTENSE AND ACADEMICALLY RIGOROUS POLICE TRAINING REGIMEN IN THE NATION TO THE FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS WHO WERE PROVIDED HERE, SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE DURATION OF THE CHAPTER. WE ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR ATTENDANCE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. THIS AFTERNOON. WE WILL HONOR AUSTIN'S NEWEST POLICE OFFICERS, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THOSE WEREN'T PREVIOUSLY, SIR, AND CURRENTLY SERVE AS PEACE OFFICERS WOULD ALL ACTIVE DUTY AND RETIRED PEACE OFFICERS. PLEASE STAND UP. EACH OF YOU IS EARNED OUR THANKS AND RESPECT FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND SERVICE. SO THANK YOU. FINALLY, I WANT US TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THINK ABOUT AND HONOR THE OFFICERS IN OUR COMMUNITY [00:20:01] AND NATION WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE LINE OF DUTY. THE FAMILY IS THE FARMER SHOULD KNOW THAT THEY HAVE ARE UNWAVERING SUPPORT AND APPRECIATION FOR THE SACRIFICES THEIR LOVED ONES HAVE MADE SO THAT YOU AND I TO LIVE FREELY AND SAFELY, PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN THEIR HONOR. IT'S NOW MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE OUR DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER RETIRED ADMIRAL BOBBY R IN ADMIRAL BOBBY. OUR INFANT IS A PAST PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER AUSTIN CRIME COMMISSION AND THE LB LYNDON B JOHNSON, CENTENNIAL CHAIR, AND NATIONAL POLICY EMERITUS PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN. HE SERVE AS INTERIM DEAN OF THE LBJ SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS IN 2005. AND AGAIN, FROM JANUARY, 2009 TO MARCH, 2010, INMAN SERVED IN THE US NAVY FROM NOVEMBER, 1951 TO JULY, 1982, RETIRING WITH A PERMANENT RANK OF ADMIRAL ON ACTIVE DUTY. HE SERVED AS THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL CENTER FOR THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY AND AS A DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AFTER RETIREMENT FROM THE NAVY. AND HE WAS CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF THE WHITEBOARD ELECTRONICS AND COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION IN AUSTIN, TEXAS FOR FOUR YEARS AND CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT, AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF WESTMARK SYSTEMS INCORPORATED A PRIVATELY OWNED ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY HOLDING COMPANY FOR THREE YEARS IN MANASSEH SERVICE CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK IN DALLAS FROM 1987 THROUGH 1990, HIS PRIMARY BUSINESS ACTIVITY SINCE 1998 HAS BEEN INVESTING IN STARTUP TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES SERVING AS MANAGING DIRECTOR OF GRIFFYNDOR VENTURES AND LANGSTONE CAPITAL ADVISORS. HE SERVES AS A TRUSTEE OF THE AMERICAN ASSEMBLY AND THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY IN MINNESOTA ELECTED FELLOW OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING ADMIRAL BODY ARE IN WELL, BACK THERE, I COULD NOT HEAR MUCH CLOVER SAID I'VE BEEN FLATTERED. I AM GRATEFUL TO CHASE SHACK ON FOR INVITING ME TO ADDRESS THIS CLASS. YOU ARE A FUTURE IN THE PROCESS. UH, FOR MANY PEOPLE, THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD BAD NEWS ON ANY OF THESE TOPICS BECAUSE NO ONE THAT THE MEDIA HAS EVER INTERVIEWED ME ABOUT ANY OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE WITH MAINTAINING PUBLIC SAFETY. UM, THERE WERE MARKS YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ON MY HONOR TO SERVE WITH THE GREATER AUSTIN COTTON COMMISSION AND STILL DO. THESE ARE MY VIEWS THAT YOU WILL HEAR FIRST, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE. I SPENT ALMOST 31 YEARS DOING THE PUBLIC SERVICE AND THE US NAVY, BUT THE LAST SEVEN YEARS OF THAT INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES SPAN ACROSS THE GOVERNMENT ALMOST 40 YEARS AT FOLLOW-UP. I'M A LOT MORE PROSPEROUS FAMILY HAS ENJOYED THE BENEFITS OF THAT, BUT NO DAY DOES IT MATCH THE SENSE OF SATISFACTION THAT I HAD AND STILL HAVE FOR MY TIME WITH PUBLIC SERVICE, TWO WARS, 16 MONTHS IN THE COMBAT ZONE DURING KOREA, 29 MONTHS IN THE COMBAT DURING VIETNAM, BUT I WAS NEVER PERSONALLY THREATENED DURING THIS. WHAT I DID LEARN FROM IT WAS THE TIME, HOW CRITICAL YOUR REACTION IN VERY SHORT AMOUNTS OF TIME, NINE, PROVIDING DIRECT SUPPORT FOR COMBAT OPERATIONS TO PUT KINETIC ENERGY UPON A TARGET [00:25:01] IN THE PROCESS, YOU WILL BE POTENTIALLY THREATENED EACH AND EVERY CALL THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE NEED TO ASSESS RISK. ALMOST INSTANTLY WILL BE MANDATED BY THE REALITY OF THE AVAILABILITY OF GUNS IN THE CITY, IN THIS SOCIETY, THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF RESPONSE, THE JUDGMENT YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE. EVERY ONE OF THOSE STEPS WILL BE CLEAR. THE BILL IN THE OUTCOME IS THIS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. IS IT POTENTIALLY MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM? CRITICALLY ARE THEY ALARMED? AND IF THERE ARE, AND THERE'S THE PERSONAL THREAT, THEN YOU NEED TO RESPOND. BUT HOPEFULLY WITH THAT JUDGMENT, IT'S THE MINIMAL LEVEL OF FORCE YOU NEED TO APPLY TO ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION YOU'RE UNDERTAKING AND THE PROCESS YOU ARE, THE FRONT LINE, PUBLIC SAFETY IN THIS COMMUNITY. YOU'RE A RAPID DECISIONS UNDER STRESS WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE REALITY. THE FACT OF LIFE, THE CAMERAS WILL LIKELY BE FOLLOWING YOUR ACTIONS AND EVERY PAGE, WHICH YOU HAVE YOUR PERSONAL CAMPUS, YOU WEAR THOSE IN YOUR VEHICLES. THOSE ARE SECURITY CAMERAS AROUND US AND MOST PREVALENT CELL PHONE CAMERAS, RECORDING, EVER STEP. YOU STILL MUST ACT, UH, AND UNDER STRESS. THAT'S HARD. THE REALITY, THE LEVEL THAT WE HAVE IN THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT IS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO WORK LONG HOURS AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE UNDER STRESS FOR A GOOD DEAL OF TIME. UH, WITH THE ADVANTAGE OF HINDSIGHT, MUCH OF THAT STRESS, THE SHORTAGE COMES FROM THE DECISION TO CANCEL THREE PRECEDING POLICE ACADEMY CLASSES. I DIDN'T SPEAK UP AT THE TIME BECAUSE I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THAT THAT WAS, THAT WAS GOING TO OCCUR. AND I SHOULD'VE GONE BACK ON MY MILITARY CAREER WITH AN ALL VOLUNTEER FORCE FOR NOW ALMOST 50 YEARS. EACH OF THOSE SERVICES HAVE TRAINING ACADEMIES, TRAINING COMMANDS, AND THE CRITICAL ISSUE IS YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CONSTANT FLOW, BUT NONE OF THOSE ACADEMIES ARE PERFECT AND THERE'S THE NEED TO CONSTANTLY REVIEW THEM AND CHANGE. IN RETROSPECT, THE DECISION TO CANCEL AS OPPOSED TO CHANGING AND PROCESS LEADS TO THE STRESS THAT YOU WILL NOW UPGRADE OUT THERE WITH A SHORTAGE WITH NUMBERS. AND THERE'S NO EASY NEAR TERM SOLUTION TO THAT. THERE ARE LIMITED FACILITIES, THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO CAN BE TRAINED. SO I CAN'T OFFER YOU ANY EARLY OR LEAVE FROM THE STRESS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO COUNTER, UH, WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO. AND THE LOOKING AHEAD FOR THIS, UM, WORRYING ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND YOU. YOU'RE NOT IN POLITICS, YOU DON'T CONTROL POLITICS, BUT POLITICS DOES INFLUENCE ON WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CRIMINALS THAT YOU APPREHEND AND THE LITTLE CRIMES AND WE'VE HAD ACROSS THE COUNTRY. VERY SIGNIFICANT FLOW OF FUNDS HERE IN AUSTIN. MOST RECENTLY IN NEW YORK TO ELECT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS WHO WERE COMMITTED TO DRAMATIC REDUCTION, THEIR PROCEDURES PRODUCTS. UM, THERE'S NOT BEEN ANY RELUCTANCE TO PURSUE POTENTIAL TIMES BY POLICE OFFICERS ALONG THE WAY. AND THE SPOUSE PLAN TO REDUCE CREDENTIALS IN NEW YORK HAS RUN INTO HEADLONG INTO THE REALITY OF FOUR POLICE [00:30:01] OFFICERS HAVING BEEN KILLED IN THE NEAR TERM. THE REALITY THAT THEY, AND YOU WILL BE UNDER THREAT WHENEVER YOU UNDERTAKE YOUR OPERATION, SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU'RE WEARING THE UNIFORM AND YOU ARE REPRESENTING THE CITY ALONG WITH THESE CHALLENGES AND DO YOUR JOB, CHARACTER MATTERS. INTEGRITY IS CRITICAL. SO IS YOUR COMMITMENT TO MAKING SURE YOU DO THE BEST THAT YOU CAN DO EVERY DAY. WHEN YOU LOOK IN THE MIRROR IN THE MORNING, YOU LOOK BACK OVER THE PAST. I HOPE YOU CAN SAY WITH COMFORT OR A TYPE OF ATTACK, AND YOU HAVE DONE YOUR DUTY TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY, REACH OUT TO MAKE FRIENDS AND PARTICULARLY WITH THE CHILDREN. WE WANT THE CHILDREN OVER TIME TO SEE YOU AS THEIR FRIEND, NOT AS A POTENTIAL ENEMY. AND EVEN THOUGH IT MAY BE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME THAT STOPPING WITH CHAT OR VISIT WITH THE CHILD WILL PAY THE LARGE DIVIDENDS WAY. UM, REMEMBER THAT YOU GO ON THE FRONT LINE AND THAT WENT TO HAVE YOUR BACK AS YOU GO BACK TO DOING THIS ENORMOUSLY IMPORTANT JOB. GREAT, GOOD LUCK TO YOU. AND THANK YOU THANK YOU, ADAM GOODMAN. WHAT NOW TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO OFFER OUR COMMUNITY AN INSIDE. LOOK AT THE ACADEMY TRAINING STAFF, ALONG WITH THE THOUGHTS THAT SOME MEMBERS OF THE ONE 44TH CADET ACADEMY HAS SHARED ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES DURING THEIR TIME WITH US, THE AMAZING TEAM IN OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE CREATED A SHORT VIDEO. AND I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU NOW, IN-SERVICE FIREFIGHTER HERE IN AUSTIN. IT'S SERVING THE MILITARY FOR LIKE NINE YEARS BEFORE I CAME OUT TO THE CHANCE TO SERVE COMMUNITY AND WORKING ALONGSIDE ON LAW ENFORCEMENT. BUT I ACTUALLY WANT IT TO DO SOMETHING MORE PURPOSEFUL AND LIKE ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY. IT'S BEEN A GOAL OF MINE FOR PROBABLY CLOSE TO LIKE FIVE YEARS NOW. I WAS IN THE ARMY BEFORE THIS. I ALWAYS KNEW THAT IT WOULD KIND OF BE A STEPPING STONE INTO POLICE WORK, AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, AWESOME GROUP OF CADETS, AWESOME GROUP OF INSTRUCTORS. AND THE STAFF OUT HERE WERE REDOING THE WAY WE LOOK AT. AND HERE IN THE ACADEMY, WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF COMMUNITY INPUT INTO THE PROCESS, AS WELL AS INCORPORATING SKILLS THAT OUR POLICE OFFICERS NEED TO BE SET TO SUCCESSFUL 21ST CENTURY. AND I'M GLAD TO BE A PART OF THIS. UH, SO SOME OF THE STUFF HASN'T CHANGED, RIGHT? POLICING IS STILL TACTICAL. UM, SO THEY'VE DONE ALL OF THE TACTICS TRAINING TO BE ABLE TO BE PREPARED. UM, BUT I THINK ALSO MAYBE ENGAGEMENT, RIGHT? UM, NOT ALL OF OUR CADETS FROM THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY. UM, SO IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US, FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT AUSTIN'S ABOUT. RIGHT. UM, WHICH I THINK THE COMMUNITY CONNECT PROGRAM IS A REALLY GOOD START. THEY'RE HERE. ACADEMIES, NO JOKE. ACADEMICS ARE TOUGH. THE PTS TOUGH DESTRUCTORS OR TELEPHONE LISTS IN A POSITIVE WAY, OF COURSE, BUT IT'S, WE'RE LEARNING. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THERE TO HELP YOU. THE ACADEMICS ARE CHALLENGING, BUT AS LONG AS YOU STUDY, LIKE WE HAVE A CURRICULUM COMMITTEE THAT WE STILL PLAN ON WORKING ON, UM, YOU KNOW, GETTING VARIOUS INPUTS FROM THE COMMUNITY ON CURRICULUM, MOVING FORWARD, COMMUNITY EXPECTS EVERYBODY THAT WEARS A UNIFORM. THEY DON'T DISTINGUISH BETWEEN WHAT YOU WEAR ON YOUR COLLAR OR WHAT YOU WERE ON YOUR SHOULDERS. THEY SEE YOU AS A COMMUNITY LEADER IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO LEADERSHIP STARTS AT ALL LEVELS OF THE WE'RE EXCITED. THEY SHOULD BE GRADUATED JANUARY 28TH, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE THEM OUT ON THE STREETS. AND JUST KIND OF GET SOME IMPORTANT [00:35:03] FOR THIS CLASS. HONESTLY, THANK YOU TO THE PIO TEAM FOR THAT WONDERFUL EACH CADET CLASS IS ACTUALLY ITS OWN CLASS. OFFICER'S SELECTION IS CLASS PRESIDENT THAT IS BOTH AN HONOR AND A SIGNIFICANT RESPONSIBILITY. THE CLASS PRESIDENT IS EXPECTED TO SET AN EXAMPLE, PROVIDE LEADERSHIP AND ACT AS A CLASS'S OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE, AS SUCH AS SELECTION SYMBOLIZES. THE CONFIDENCE CLASS HAS BESTOWED UPON BOTH DISCIPLINE MANAGEMENT. THE ONE 44TH CADET CLASS HAS CHOSEN TO DEATH, LAVON GRIFFIN AS PRESIDENT CADET. GRIFFIN WHO'S COME FORWARD. THANK YOU EVERYONE. UH, JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW, I AM A SON OF A BAPTIST MINISTER, BUT I DIDN'T CUT THE SPEECH DOWN, SO WE WOULDN'T BE HERE FOR IT. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE, EVERYONE, UH, GRIFFIN, THE CLASS PRESIDENT ONE 44TH, UH, ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE, THE OTHER ONE 44TH, FIFTH CLASS, LIKE THE THING, UH, ALL THE EXECUTIVE TEAM ALL YESTERDAY UP ON STAGE HERE AND ALSO A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR INSTRUCTORS AND COMMAND STAFF AT THE ACADEMY. YEAH, MOST IMPORTANT. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU HERE. ALL THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND ATTENDANCE, UH, LIVE STREAMING. IF YOU'RE WATCHING WHEREVER YOU MAY BE, UH, WITHOUT ALL YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING, UH, WE DEFINITELY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE THIS ACHIEVEMENT. UH, YOU ALL WERE THE ONES THAT, UH, PICKED UP THE SLACK WHEN WE NEEDED EXTRA TIME TO STUDY, WE'RE PUTTING IN EXTRA PT, OR WE JUST WANTED TO CRASH OUT ON THE COUCH AFTER BEING EXHAUSTED FROM A HARD DAY. LET ME APPRECIATE, UH, TO MY FELLOW CADETS. I KNOW THE WORK WE PUT IN THE BLOOD AND SWEAT, AND AS I LOOK ACROSS THE GROUP, UM, I FILL IT A BIG AMOUNT OF PRIDE IN WHAT WE'VE DONE. UH, WE HAD TO PUNCH EACH OTHER, A WRESTLE, YOUR PRINTED HAIR, SQUATS, PUSH UPS, TUTORING, EACH OTHER, AND MENTORING. AND THANK GOD YOU ONLY SHOT EACH OTHER AT ONE TIME. UH, I WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT STEPPED UP TO DO EXTRA DURING THE ACADEMY. UH, WHETHER THAT BE THE GUYS ON THE COLORS, DETAIL, UH, SPANISH THROUGH HEPARIN SPENCER A DAY, OUR CLASS OFFICERS, UH, GUYS CALL THE CAGE DURING THE CHIEF'S RUDD 2D GRIP AT 81 THAT WAS STEPPED UP TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR SUCCESS IN OUR ABILITY AS A GROUP TO, UH, TO COME TOGETHER OVER THESE PAST EIGHT MONTHS, WE'VE MADE SOME FRIENDS AND CONNECTIONS THAT ARE GONNA LAST A LIFETIME. OUR GROUP IS THE MOST DIVERSE CONNECT CLASS IN THE HISTORY OF APD. AND I'M HONORED TO SAY THAT PART OF IT, OUR DIVERSITY, CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES, THE MAN'S A STRONGER GROUP. AND NOW IT'S TIME TO JOIN OUR FELLOW OFFICERS AND SERVICE TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN GOING FORWARD. I WANT US ALL TO REMEMBER WHY WE SIGNED UP THE PROFESSION WE'VE CHOSEN IS NOT ONE THAT IS ENTERED INTO LIGHTLY. NEVER FORGET THE COMMITMENT THAT YOU MADE AND THE SACRIFICE NEEDED TO BE A PEACE OFFICER. THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY, GOING TO BE COUNTING ON YOU TO KEEP THEM SAFE AND HELP THEM IN THEIR TIME OF NEED THE HOURS OF TRAINING UNDERTOOK. THEY'RE NOT THE END OF THE WORK. YOU MUST CONTINUE TO DO MORE TO PREPARE YOURSELF MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY TO HANDLE THE DEMANDS OF THE PROFESSION. THE SKILLS YOU TRADE MUST BE MAINTAINED. AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE PEOPLE WE SERVE OR YOURSELF. IT'S GOING TO BE YOUR FAMILY AND THE LOVED ONES. THE PEOPLE YOU CARE ABOUT. THEY'RE ALSO COUNTING ON US TO COME HOME SAFE EVERY DAY TO THAT END. I ALSO ASK YOU GUYS IN ATTENDANCE TO CONTINUE YOUR SUPPORT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO NEED IT. THERE'LL BE LONG HOURS ON DUTY, EXTRA TIME NEEDED TO TRAIN OFF THE CLOCK. AND WE'RE GOING TO EXPERIENCE SOME THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE THE WORST OF WHAT LIFE HAS TO OFFER. WE'RE GOING TO NEED YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT TO WORK THROUGH THAT AND CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. THE JOURNEY IS JUST BEGINNING AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US TO MAKE IT THROUGH, BUT THROUGH IT ALL, I LOOK FORWARD TO 20 PLUS YEARS FROM NOW, WE CAN LOOK BACK AND SEE WHAT THE 1 44 DID TO MAKE THIS SITTING IN OUR WORLD A BETTER PLACE. THANK YOU. [00:40:08] THINKING CADET GRIFFIN. OUR FIRST AWARD THIS AFTERNOON IS A HUMANITARIAN ROUTE. EACH CADET CLASS NOMINATES A FELLOW CADET TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD TO HONOR THEM AS THEIR CLASS HUMANITARIAN, TO PRESENT THE HUMANITARIAN AWARD TO THE CADET WHO BEST EXEMPLIFIES THESE CHARACTERISTICS IS MY COLLEAGUE RICKY D TRAINING DIVISION DIVISION MANAGER, DR. ANNE PREMIUM, PRIOR TO JOINING THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND WE KREEGAN PHD WORKED AS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN AND THE ASSISTANT DEAN OF THE HENRY C. LEE COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND FORENSIC SCIENCES. DR. CREAGAN HAS CONDUCTED MULTIPLE LARGE-SCALE EVALUATIONS FOR MAJOR METROPOLITAN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE. SHE HAS BEEN AT DISCUSSING AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE. IT HAS BRIEFED THE US CONGRESS ABOUT CHALLENGES TO DIVERSIFICATION IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. SHE CURRENTLY SERVES ON THE RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE. DR. CREAGAN HAS RECEIVED HER PHD IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE FROM TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY. SHE WAS FORMERLY A POLICE OFFICER IN ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, PLEASE WELCOME DR. ANN DRINKING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING. THE HUMANITARIAN AWARD WAS ESTABLISHED AND NAMED AFTER RETIRED APD LIEUTENANT ERNIE HENKEL TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEPARTMENT AND TO THE COMMUNITY. LIEUTENANT DAN GOLD WAS THE CLASS PRESIDENT OF THE 23RD CADET CLASS COMMISSIONED ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 1960. HE SPENT HIS ENTIRE CAREER AS A STREET OFFICER ERNIE. HE PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT IN 1973, WHERE HE REMAINED IN PATROL FOR 22 YEARS BECAUSE HE NEVER WANTED TO LEAVE THE STREET AT WHAT AT ONE TIME LIEUTENANT HINKLE WAS THE MOST DECORATED POLICE OFFICER IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECEIVING OVER 200 AWARDS AND COMMENDATIONS IN 1993, HE WAS ONE OF 18 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS TO BE SELECTED BY THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT TO RECEIVE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR PROFESSIONALS. LIEUTENANT RETIRED ON NOVEMBER 25TH, 1995, AND DEVOTED MORE THAN 35 YEARS OF HIS LIFE TO THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT. HE ALSO GAVE UNSELFISHLY OF HIMSELF TO OTHERS EACH AND EVERY DAY OF HIS CAREER. NOW RETIRED. HE REMAINS IN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS AS THE SYMBOL OF WHAT A GREAT OFFICER SHOULD BE COURAGEOUS AND KIND HONORABLE AND HUMBLE PRIMP PRINCIPLED. AND WITH A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE FRAILTY OF THE CUBAN CONDITION, THE ONE 44TH CLASS CADET CLASS HAS CHOSEN CADET LANCE FORD AS THEIR CLASS HUMANITARIAN CADET BOARD, PLEASE COME FORWARD TO THE STAGE THANK YOU, DR. CREAMY. CONGRATULATIONS CADET FORWARD. OUR NEXT AWARD IS AN HONOR CADET TO PRESENT THE AWARD FOR HONOR. CADET WILL BE MR. CORBY. JASTROW MR. JAZZ DRESS, THE 12TH PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER AUSTIN CRIME COMMISSION. HE IS A FOURTH GENERATION AUSTINITE AND VICE-PRESIDENT PROMINENT TITLE. COURTNEY IS INVOLVED IN MANY LOCAL CHARITIES AND BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS. HE IS IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN COUNTRY CLUB AND FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION, MR. JASTROW AND HIS WIFE, STEPHANIE HAVE $3 WHO ATTENDED AUSTIN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. MR. JASTROW CAN YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE HONOR CADET IS CHOSEN BY THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT TRAINING STUFF AS THE CADET WHO BEST EXEMPLIFIES THE SKILLS AND ABILITIES THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO THE TRAINING PROGRAM, LEADERSHIP, INTEGRITY, PROFESSIONALISM INITIATIVE, HARD [00:45:01] WORK DEPENDABILITY, AND OVERALL PERFORMANCE. THE INSTRUCTORS OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT CADET TRAINING UNIT HAVE SELECTED HAVE CHOSEN CADET TANNER, CILANTRO AS A RECIPIENT OF THE HONOR CADET AWARD FOR THE ONE 44TH CADET CLASS. COULD I ASK YOU TO INTRO, PLEASE COME FORWARD TO THIS STAGE AND ACCEPT THIS AWARD IT IS NOW MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE THE CHIEF OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT. JOSEPH CHACAN WAS RECENTLY NAMED CHIEF OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT IN HIS PREVIOUS ROLE AS ASSISTANT CHIEF. HE MANAGED THE DEPARTMENT CENTRAL PATROL HERO ATTAINMENT DISTRICT SPECIALIZED PATROL FUNCTIONS, SUCH AS MOUNTED PATROL PARKS AND LAKES AND WALKING THE BEAT PATROLS AND APD SPECIALTY ADVANCED EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT UNITS. HE ALSO MANAGED THE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL OPERATIONS DIVISION, INCLUDING SWAT BOMB, SQUAD, CANINE UNITS AND AIRPORT OPERATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, HE SUPERVISED ABDS SPECIAL RESPONSE TEAM. CHIEF CHECON HAS A WIDE BREADTH OF EXPERIENCE IN ALMOST ALL AREAS OF POLICE WORK. HE WORKED MOST OF HIS 28 CAREER 28 YEAR CAREER IN INVESTIGATIONS, EITHER AS A DETECTIVE OR SUPERVISING ANY HOMICIDE ROBBERY, SEX CRIMES, CHILD ABUSE, AND SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNITS, AS WELL AS THE ORGANIZED CRIME DIVISION. MOST RECENTLY, HE SERVED AS PATROL COMMANDER IN NORTH AUSTIN AND AS THE DEPARTMENT'S INTELLIGENCE COMMANDER BEFORE BEING PROMOTED TO ASSISTANT CHIEF IN 2016, CHIEF CHUCK ON IS A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON SCHOOL OF URBAN AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS, WHERE HE EARNED A MASTER'S DEGREE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. HE RECEIVED HIS BACHELOR OF APPLIED ARTS AND SCIENCES FOR MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY IN WICHITA FALLS. TEXAS IS ALSO A GRADUATE GRADUATE OF THE POLICE EXECUTIVE RESEARCH FORUMS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE FOR POLICE, TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY CERTIFIED PUBLIC MANAGER PROGRAM AND THE MCA MTCA POLICE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE. PLEASE WELCOME AUSTIN POLICE, CHIEF JOSEPH CHUCK ON WE'RE ALMOST THERE FOLKS. I PROMISE WHAT AN AMAZING DAY. I'M SO PROUD OF THESE MEN AND WOMEN. I'M SO PROUD OF THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO TRAINED THEM AND RECRUITED THEM. SO THANK YOU AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO ALL OF OUR ATTENDEES TODAY. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK OUR, UM, OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE IN TENNESSEE IN ATTENDANCE, MAYOR ADLER, MAYOR PRO TEM ALTAR, UH, AND ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS. I WANT TO THANK, UH, CITY MANAGER, KRONK AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER. ADIANO UH, FOR THE STRONGEST SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE BOTH EXHIBITED FOR OUR DEPARTMENT IN THIS ACADEMY. I WANT TO THANK OUR ACADEMY STAFF THAT HAVE BEEN BUILDING THIS PLANE WHILE IT'S BEEN IN FLIGHT ADAPTING TO THE EXPECTATIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO CHANGE THE WAY IN WHICH WE DELIVER ACADEMY INSTRUCTION, AND YET TO PREPARE THESE MEN AND WOMEN FOR THE CHALLENGING CAREER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS, PARTICULARLY I WANT TO THANK OUR DIVISION MANAGER, DR. ANN CRAIGAN, WHO WE HAVE ASKED TO UPDATE OUR TRAINING MODEL AT THE ACADEMY AND WHO HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB OF MODIFYING OUR CURRICULUM AND METHOD OF INSTRUCTION. THANK YOU TO OUR INCREDIBLE STAFF, WORKED SO HARD TO RECRUIT THIS AND FUTURE CLASSES AND GET RECRUITED A GROUP OF AMAZING YOUNG PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE EXHIBITED A DESIRE TO SERVE. AND I SAVED MY HEARTIEST THINGS FOR THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS THAT ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY TO WATCH AS THESE MEN AND WOMEN GRADUATE AFTER AN EIGHT AND A HALF MONTH MARATHON, THANK YOU FOR THE STRONG SUPPORT, THE AMAZING SUPPORT YOU HAVE DISPLAYED THAT, BUT FOR THAT SUPPORT, THESE NEW OFFICERS WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. TAKE THIS MOMENT TO CELEBRATE AN INCREDIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENT AFTER SIFTING THROUGH MORE THAN A THOUSAND APPLICATIONS, TO BE A PART OF THIS ACADEMY CLASS. THIS IS THE SMALL GROUP THAT MET ALL THE QUALIFICATIONS [00:50:01] NECESSARY TO BECOME AN AUSTIN POLICE OFFICER. IT'S MY HONOR TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ADDRESS THE ONE 44TH ACADEMY CLASS AT THIS COMMENCEMENT. THIS IS THE FIRST CLASS THAT I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO ADDRESS AS CHIEF OF POLICE. AND THE FIRST THAT I HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO SEND OUT INTO THIS COMMUNITY, WITH THE EXPECTATIONS THAT I AM BUILDING WITHIN THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, TO THE MEN AND WOMEN AT THE ONE 44TH CLASS. I NOW TURN TO YOU AND THESE COMMENTS ARE FOR EACH OF YOU FIRST I'VE SAID IT ALREADY MANY TIMES. I AM SO PROUD OF YOU. YOU HAVE PERSEVERED IN WHAT MUST HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING TRAINING ENVIRONMENTS THAT WE'VE EVER HAD HERE AT APD ON TOP OF THE NORMAL ROOMING CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH ACADEMY TRAINING, THE LONG HOURS OF STUDYING TO ACCOMPLISH THE ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS, THE RIGORS OF FISCAL TRAINING, DEFENSIVE TACTICS, DRIVING TRAINING, FIREARMS, PROFICIENCY, DEESCALATION, AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS. ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT, WE ADDED A WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC THAT HAS LED TO ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY AND COMMUNITY ANXIETY. AND I KNOW THAT LED TO ANXIETY FOR ALL OF YOU AS WELL. WHILE WE HAVE DONE OUR BEST TO MAKE YOU ALL SUCCESSFUL, NOT ALL WHO STARTED THE ACADEMY ARE SITTING HERE TODAY. SOME COULD NOT OVERCOME THE ACADEMIC OR PHYSICAL CHALLENGES. AND SOME CAME TO THE REALIZATION THAT THIS JOB THAT DEMAND MORE THAN THEY COULD GIVE YOU HAVE BEEN PUSHED MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY TO THE BRINK OF YOUR LIMITS. AND HERE YOU SIT TODAY, TRIUMPHING IN YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT GRADUATION FROM ONE OF THE BEST AND MOST DEMANDING ACADEMIES IN THE NATION. BUILDING A CULTURE OF LEADERSHIP IN THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND I WANT TO REQUIRE LEADERS IN THIS PROFESSION. SOME OF YOU WILL HAVE FORMAL LEADERS, SERGEANTS, THE TENANTS CHIEFS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S PUT ON THE MANTLE OF INFORMAL LEADER, BUT BOTH PATHS REQUIRED TO DISPLAY LEADERSHIP LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. WE WILL HELP YOU TO BE SUCCESSFUL, BUT ULTIMATELY LEARN FROM THOSE TEACH IN A MINUTE. TO ME, AN EFFECTIVE LEADER NEEDS TO FOLLOW THE FOLLOWING WITH THE DESIRE. WHEN YOU LEAVE HERE TODAY IN YOUR CAREER TO HEAP ON PROFESSIONALISM, POLICE OFFICERS, AND WE ASKED YOU TO MAKE SPLIT SECOND DECISIONS AT THE FABRICATION PROCESS, THESE ARE THE CORNERSTONES OF OUR PROFESSION. SO TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP TO DO AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF SERVICE, GIVE YOU A BRIEF SENSE OF SATISFACTION, AND THEN I CAN POSSIBLY BEGIN TO LIVE AND LEAD WITH COURAGE AND WITH QUEERNESS. AND YOU MAY CALL IT CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, CHIEF JACQUELINE. NOW THE MOMENT THESE CADETS HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARD FOR SO LONG, THE PINNING OF THE AUSTIN POLICE BADGE OFFICE MEMBERS OF THE ONE 44TH CADET CLASS IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS, YOU WILL OFFICIALLY BE SCORED IT AS MOST OF THE POLICE OFFICERS. THE BATCH WITH WHICH YOU WERE ABOUT TO BE PRESENTED SHOULD ALWAYS BE WORN WITH COURAGE, RESPECT, [00:55:02] AND HUMILITY OF YOUR ACTIONS THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER WILL BE A REFLECTION OF THIS BADGE, YOUR CHARACTER, AND OUR DEPARTMENT WEAR THIS BADGE WITH PRIDE DEFENDED WITH HONOR, ALWAYS SEE IT AS A SYMBOL OF THE SACRED TRUST BETWEEN YOU AND THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU SERVE. YOU PLEASE JOIN US ON THE STAGE. IF I COULD GET THE COMMAND STAFF TO FORM A RECEIVING LINE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE FOR THE ONE IN 44 WITH THE CADET CLASS, EACH OFFICER CHRISTIAN ACCOMPANIED BY HIS MOTHER MISA IN GIRLFRIEND, SYDNEY, JOSEPH BADGES, HIS FATHER, ARTHUR, WHATEVER, FORMERLY RETIRED WITH THE LOSS OF POLICE DEPARTMENT TECH COMPANY. OFFICER JAMES BARON WILL BE HIS FIANCE YARI ACCOMPANIED BY HIS FATHER, JIM AND HIS MOTHER, BRENDA OFFICER ISAAC BURNOW. HITTING OFFICER ROSE BADGES, HIS WIFE, A THREE ANA [01:00:11] OFFICER JACOB BOWMAN PETTY OFFICER BOWMAN'S BADGE IS HIS WIFE, ALYSSA OFFICER MICHAEL RAN HER AS BAD AS HIS FATHER. MIKE SR WAS A CORPORAL WITH THE TRAVIS COUNTY, CONSTABLE PRECINCT THREE COMPANY BY HIS MOTHER, MONICA PUTTING OFFICER BUTTS BATCH TODAY IS HIS WIFE OFFICER GREG CAMPBELL. HITTING MY OFFICER CAMPBELL'S BADGE THAT IT'S A SUN LEAK COMPANY BY HIS WIFE. CHRIS CAN OFFICER DANIEL COMPOST OFFICER CONFERENCE MATCH. TODAY IS HIS WIFE, TIFFANY MEANING ACCOMPANIED BY HIS MOTHER THREE TIMES, LITA, HIS SISTER DESERET, COUSIN, COUSIN, RICHARD OFFICER COMING OFFICER, CUSTOMER AND DISPATCH. TODAY'S HIS MOTHER BERTHA ACCOMPANIED BY HIS FATHER, HECTOR SISTER, SOPHIA AND SISTER OFFICER SEBASTIAN SYMBIOSIS. OFFICER SMILES MATCH. TODAY'S HIS WIFE HAMMOND LEEKA DAUGHTER ACCOMPANIED BY HIS DAUGHTER. WILLOW FATHER WOULD HAND THE MOTHER PATRICIA [01:05:27] OFFICER TANNER CILENTO IT DOES BATCH TODAY AS HIS MOTHER, SUSAN ACCOMPANIED BY HIS FATHER, RICHARD UNCLE RICH RETIRED SERGEANT WITH ILLINOIS STATE POLICE, SISTER AND SISTER, SAMANTHA OFFICER WILLIAM LARSEN CLARKSON DISPATCH STAYS IT'S FATHER TIM COMPANIED BY HIS MOTHER. VERY YOUNG OFFICER ROBERT COLLINS DISPATCH TODAY IS HIS MOTHER LESS THAN OFFICER ZERO DANIELS ANY OFFICER DANIEL'S BADGE. AND HE HAS HIS WIFE, MACKENZIE, THE COMPANY BY HIS MOTHER OFFICER JOE D. DIXON. HITTING OFFICER DIXON'S BADGE TODAY. HIS COUSIN, MARCEL DETECTIVE WITH NYTD 73RD PRECINCT AND COMPANY BY MOTHER. THE SAME WAY OFFICER DREW TOMORROW. I BE GETTING OFFICER THROW ONE SPANISH TODAY. IT'S HIS MOTHER IS SITTING HERE ACCOMPANIED BY FATHER PERRY OFFICER BRIAN EPPS. HITTING THE OFFICER EPPS SPANISH STATES, HIS FATHER, BRIAN MASTER OF ILLINOIS, STATE POLICE, SERGEANT [01:10:01] AND MOTHER ACCOMPANIED BY ANOTHER KENYA AND WIFE JOURNEY. OFFICER LORENZO FONSECA. GETTING OFFICER'S ON SECOND SPATCH. TODAY IS FATHER EMMANUEL, SENIOR OFFICER OF CORPUS CHRISTI GD COMPANY BY HIS DONOR OFFICER THE VAUGHN GRIFFIN OFFICER GRIFFIN. HIS BADGE WILL BE PINNED BY HIS WIFE FROM ASHLEY, CURRENTLY AN INSPECTOR WITH UT OFFICER LET'S MATCH NAMES. HIS WIFE, LISA ACCOMPANIED BY DAUGHTER AND SON OFFICER GABRIELLE. REALLY SMALL GRANDMOTHER, REYNA OFFICER MATTHEW HEINZ OFFICER HEINZ BADGE. TODAY'S HIS WIFE, BRIANNA ACCOMPANIED BY FATHER MIKE MOTHER CHRISTIE BROTHER, JORDAN BROTHER-IN-LAW. BRANDON, WHO WAS A CORPORATE WITH ERNIE EATING OFFICER ANTONIO MARTINEZ . [01:15:02] THE BADGE WILL BE PINNED BY HIS GIRLFRIEND DOMINICANA ACCOMPANIED BY FATHER JOSE AND MOTHER-IN-LAW OFFICER HAD. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO MEAL BUSINESS. DISPATCH TODAY. IT'S HIS FATHER, ONE COMPANY BY MOTHER MARIA, GIRLFRIEND, ELIZABETH AND BROTHER JAVIER OFFICER AT WATERVILLE. HE MEANT IT'S HITTING OFFICER. HE MADE A DISPATCH. TODAY'S HIS WIFE EVIDENT ACCOMPANIED BY SON AT WATERVILLE JR. AND DAUGHTER OFFICER DEMAND KIT. PUTTING OFFICER KIT'S BADGE TODAY IS HIS MOTHER RWANDA ACCOMPANIED BY BROTHER DARREN AND SISTER DRE. OFFICER AARON KRAMER. CUTTING OFF YOUR FINGERS BASH. TODAY'S HIS GIRLFRIEND, NICOLE OFFICER ROBERT LONG. GETTING OFF TO THE LONG SMASH. TODAY'S HIS WIFE. SATIE ACCOMPANIED BY BROTHER. AARON, WHO WAS AN OFFICER AT THE ROUND ROCK POLICE DEPARTMENT. OFFICER BRANDON LEE. GETTING OFF SQUEEZE BADGE. TODAY IS HIS FATHER JIM ACCOMPANIED BY MOTHER LORRAINE. [01:20:17] OFFICER RICHARD LEE VERSON CAN WE GO, SIR? LEAVERS AND DISPATCH. TODAY'S HIS WIFE. TAYLOR OFFICER JEREMIAH. LOUIS. HITTING OFFICER LEWIS, HIS BADGE. TODAY'S HIS GIRLFRIEND TELLING THE COMPANY BY HIS MOTHER, BETTY FATHER WORK. OFFICER JOSHUA LA ACTUALLY ACCOMPANIED BY MOTHER SEVEN. OFFICER NICHOLAS LOCK-IN YOU WANT TO COME SPEND TWO DAYS AS MOTHER LISA COMPANY BY FATHER MARK AND GIRLFRIEND AND HIS SHAUNA OFFICER MAKEDA LOPEZ . TODAY IS A SON HIKER FATHER COMPANY BY FATHER RAYEZ, ASHLEY AND JAMES OFFICER SARAH MCCLOSKEY. COMING OFFICER MCCLOSKEY. HIS BADGE TODAY IS FATHER'S SERGEANT JEFF MCCLOSKEY AND WEST PORTLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT COMPANY. WHEN HER MOTHER KIM OFFICER ASHLEY MYER [01:25:34] OFFICER KYLE MR. MILLER'S BACKSTAGE IS FATHER CAMERA ACCOMPANIED BY MOTHER JODI OFFICER JULIO, THE THIRD IT'S HIS FATHER JULIO JR. AND HIS COMPANY BY MOTHER IRIS. OFFICER BRANDON. NICE. I THINK OFFICER MOONEY SPATCH DAY. IT'S HIS GIRLFRIEND? CARLY COMPANY-WIDE MOTHER, MELISSA AND BROTHER OFFICER MICHAEL MOONIES. MR. MOONEY. SPATCH NAYS. HIS FATHER DANNY RETIRED SERGEANT WITH THE DEMOS POLICE DEPARTMENT. ALSO BROTHER-IN-LAW TAYLOR, TEXAS POLICE DEPARTMENT. OFFICER DAVID TODAY'S HIS FATHER PHILIP CURRENTLY AN ACTIVE OFFICER WITH THE SAN MARCOS POLICE DEPARTMENT, ALONG WITH HIS MOTHER RUTHIE HITTING OFFICER OBEYED. SPATCH NAVAL HIS GIRLFRIEND, ALICIA [01:30:02] OFFICER JOSHUA. THAT THROWS UP DISPATCH. TODAY IS HIS FRIEND TANNER AND ACCOMPANY. MY FRIENDS EDSON. KEVIN OKAY. OFFICER JENNIFER BENNIS, LINA I MEAN OFFICER MOLINA'S BADGE STAYS WHERE IT'S MOTHER MARY MEDEA FRIENDS COMPANY BY FRIENDS, JEFF AND SUSAN WHITE. OFFICER ALYSSA ROYCE. HOW'S THE CHORUS BATCH. WHEN WE THINK BY HER MOTHER, DONNA AND FATHER ARTHUR AND ACCOMPANIED BY GRANDMOTHER. OFFICER CHRISTOPHER CRU TODAY'S HIS WIFE, ALYSSA ACCOMPANIED MY DAUGHTER MAYA IS WIFE, VICTORIA OFFICER ANTHONY TODAY, BUT HIS WIFE PAGE OFFICER NAME IS MOTHER DIANA COMPANY BY FATHER JOE AND [01:35:01] NIECES, EVELYN AND VIOLENT CUTTING OFFICER SIMMONS BATCH. THEY WILL BE SISTER OFFICER PLAYER SIMMONS SIMMONS FROM APD, UNCLE CHIEF, DEPUTY CONSTABLE, UH, DENTON COUNTY PRECINCT TO OFFICER WILLIAM SIMON CUTTING OFF SOME ASSIGNMENTS IN SPANISH. THEY WILL BE HIS FATHER, WILLIAM AND MOTHER JUDAH OFFICER THEN HE GOES TO ASSIST IN SPANISH. TODAY IS HIS WIFE JULIA OR OFFICER MATTHEW SOLOMON IN SPANISH. TODAY'S IS WHITE BROOKLYN COMPANY BY MOTHER, JENNY SON, NOAH AND DAUGHTER OFFICER CAITLIN SPRADLING. DISPATCH STABLE BEFORE HER FATHER JAMES ACCOMPANIED BY MOTHER LINDA AND DAUGHTER, KARA OFFICER RACHEL STALKING, PUTTING OFF CELLS. THESE MATCH TODAY WOULD BE HER BROTHER [01:40:09] OFFICER BRANDS TIBIDEAU THEN YOU CAN HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF SPANISH IS APRIL BEING HIS WIFE, BRITTANY OFFICER JORDAN TUNNEL. WE'LL BE HIS DAUGHTER LILLY COMPANY BY SON, ABRAHAM AND BROTHER TRAVIS HITTING OFFICER COMPANY, MY SISTER, SAVANNAH AND DAUGHTER LIKE OFFICER LANDS BOARD. HIS WIFE, OREGON ACCOMPANIED BY FATHER MICHAEL AND MOTHER SARAH OFFICER NATASHA WELLS WE'LL BE PINNED BY HER HUSBAND, OFFICER COMPANY. MY SON AND MOTHER DID DENISE OFFICER CHARLES WESLEY [01:45:05] PUTTING OFF SOME WESTERN SPANISH STABLE. IT'S PROBABLY LAWRENCE COMPANY BY MOTHER FELICIA SEVENS, CADEN AND JEROME OFFICER JOSHUA WHITLEY JULIAN COMPANY. MY GRANDFATHER WOULD ALSO GARY AND FATHER SEAN OFFICER'S ZACHARY WISPY. CUTTING OFF THE RECIPES, BADGE DAVID, BUT WE'LL BE FATHER DWAYNE ACCOMPANIED BY HIS MOTHER, SHARON. CLOSING IT OUT FOR US TODAY. AUSTIN OFFICER AUSTIN, DARLENE IT'S FATHER TERRY AND MOTHER PATRICIA COMPANY, MY STEPMOTHER, ADA AND BOYFRIEND CODY WILL YOU NOW COME ADMINISTER? OKAY. REPEAT AFTER ME. I STATE YOUR NAME [01:51:18] DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE AND PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES INCUMBENT UPON ME AS A POLICE OFFICER OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY SKILL AND ABILITY, MY ACTIONS WILL ALWAYS BE EXECUTED WITHIN THE SPIRIT OF THE CONSTITUTION. THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN. I FURTHER SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL BE FAITHFUL TO THE DEMANDS FOR TRUTH AND HONESTY AS ESTABLISHED BY MY PROFESSION AND THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT. I WILL BE PROFESSIONAL IN ALL REGARDS RESPECT AND OBEY MY SENIORS IN RANK AND ENFORCE THE LAW WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOR OR DISCRIMINATION. I WILL DEVOTE MY EFFORTS AND SKILLS TO THE HONORABLE PROFESSION OF POLICING, TO THE SERVICE OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND INDIVIDUALS OF THIS COMMUNITY. THE CITY OF AUSTIN, I WOULD ASSIST THOSE IN PERIL OR DISTRESS AND IF NECESSARY, LAY DOWN MY LIFE RATHER THAN SWERVE FOR THE PATH OF DUTY. SO HELP ME, GOD, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I GIVE YOU THE OFFICERS AT THE ONE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEAT OF THE RECRUITING AND TRAINING STAFF AND THE ENTIRE POLICE DEPARTMENT FAMILY. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE APDS YOU AS POLICE OFFICERS AND TO THE OFFICERS OF THE ONE 44TH POLICE ACADEMY GO FORWARD AND DO GREAT THINGS, MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE AND TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES AND EACH OTHER. THANKS AGAIN TO ALL THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT HAVE MADE THEIR JOURNEY POSSIBLE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS CONCLUDES TODAY'S CEREMONY, REFRESHMENT SPONSORED BY THE APD CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY WILL BE SERVED AT THE FOIL OFFICER GRIFFIN AS YOUR LAST OFFICIAL [01:55:01] ACT AS CLASS PRESIDENT DISMISS YOUR CLASS. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.