[ Austin 153rd Austin Police Academy Graduation Ceremony]
["A portion of this video contains no audio."]
[00:00:33]
I'M AN ASSISTANT CHIEF WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT TRAINING DIVISION.
I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A HEARTFELT WELCOME TO OUR COMMISSIONER OF THE HUNDRED 53RD CADET CLASS GRADUATION ON JULY 29TH, 2020 4 61, MEN AND WOMEN CAME TOGETHER FROM A VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS AND COMMUNITIES TO UNDERGO THE TRAINING REQUIRED TO BECOME AUSTIN POLICE OFFICERS.
AFTER 32 WEEKS OF RIGOROUS TRAINING FOR THE HUNDRED 53RD ACADEMY CLASS, 29 OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY SUCCEEDED IN THEIR GOAL.
THEY HAVE MET OUR DEMANDING PHYSICAL, ACADEMIC, AND ETHICAL STANDARDS.
THEY NOW HAVE THE PRIVILEGE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF WORRYING THE BADGE OF AN AWESOME POLICE OFFICER.
EVERYONE, PLEASE STAND AND WELCOME THE GRADUATES OF THE HUNDRED AND 53RD CADET CLASS.
PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE COLORS BY THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT'S HONOR GUARD AND THE PLAYING OF THE STAR SPAN BANNER, ALL UNIFORMED OFFICERS OH,
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OH, ALL UNIFORM MEMBERS, PLEASE REMOVE YOUR COVER FOR THE INVOCATION, WHICH WILL BE DELIVERED BY A BD CHAPLAIN.THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE, AND WE SHALL ALL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT.
OUR FATHER, WHO OUGHT IN HEAVEN, HOLY IS THY NAME.
THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD, AND FORGIVE US NOT OUR TRESPASSES, AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASSED AGAINST US.
LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
FATHER GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS WELCOMING YOU INTO THIS CEREMONY IN SUCH A TIME AS THIS, A DAY NEVER SEEN, BUT BY MANY TIRELESSLY, STRIVE FOR AND ANXIOUSLY ANTICIPATED THIS, THE GRADUATION AND COMMISSIONING OF THE 153RD CADET CLASS OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, A FRESH ADDITION TO THE A PD SQUAD TO WATCH OVER YOUR PEOPLE.
WE THANK YOU FOR THESE MUCH NEEDED SERVANTS FOR OUR CITY, THE DAY THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BY NONE BUT YOU.
FATHER GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GIFT OF LIFE, HEALTH AND WISDOM, FOR SUPPLYING ALL OUR NEEDS, FOR YOUR TENDER MERCIES AND YOUR PATIENCE.
LORD, WE ASK YOU TO SEND THE HOLY SPIRIT TO FILL THIS TABERNACLE AND BLESS US WITH YOUR PRESENCE.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORTERS WHO HAVE ASSEMBLED TO WITNESS IN CELEBRATION, AND PRAY THAT THIS SUPPORT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE CAREER OF THESE CADETS, THESE GRADUATES.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE A PD STAFF THAT COMMITTED THOSE COMMITTED MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE COMPASSIONATELY WORKED TO PREPARE THESE CADETS FOR THEIR ROLE IN THIS DEPARTMENT.
WE PRAY THAT THIS APPOINTED LEADERSHIP WILL FOREVER BE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THESE SOON TO BE OFFICERS THROUGHOUT THEIR COMMISSION.
OUR PRAYER IS THAT THESE GRADUATES WILL STEP OUT AS THE LEADERS THAT YOU HAVE DESIGNED THEM TO BE.
LORD, THANK THAT THEIR CONFIDENCE WILL BE BUILT AS A RESULT OF EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE, THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TAUGHT AND THAT THEY MAY ENCOUNTER.
GIVE THEM HEARTS TO HUMBLY ADMONISH THE IDOL MINDED AND THE UNRULY, AND TO ENCOURAGE THE DIS DISHEARTENED, HELP THE WEAK AND TO BE PATIENT IN EVERY SITUATION WITH EVERYONE.
LORD, REMIND THEM CONTINUOUSLY THAT THEY ARE NOT OF THEMSELVES, BUT YOUR CHOSEN PEACEKEEPERS THAT YOU ARE THE SILENT LISTENER TO EVERY CONVERSATION.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORTERS WHO HAVE ASSEMBLED TO WITNESS IN THE CC CELEBRATION AND PRAY THAT THE SUPPORT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE YEAR, THROUGH THE YEARS.
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YOU GIVE CONFIDENCE TO THE FAMILIES, THE HUSBANDS, THE WIVES, THE CHILDRENS, THE MOTHERS, FATHERS, SISTERS, AND BROTHERS.ENCOURAGE THEM THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SUPERBLY, THAT THESE CADETS HAVE BEEN SUPERBLY TRAINED AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE TRAINED WHERE NEEDED.
AND FOR THEM TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE PRESENT, YOU ARE PRESENT, HELP EVERY DAY, EVERY STEP, EVERY DECISION THEY HAVE TO MAKE, AND EVERY TIME THEY STEP INTO THIS UNIFORM THAT YOU ARE WITH THEM, TAKE AWAY ANY CONCERNS THAT MAY BE LAYING ON THEIR HEARTS.
DON'T ALLOW ANYTHING TO ERODE THE PRIDE AND HAPPINESS THAT THEY FEEL IN THEIR HEARTS THIS DAY.
ALLOW THEM TO PLACE THEIR COMMISSIONS IN YOUR HANDS FOR YOU PROMISED IN YOUR WORD PROTECTION IN OUR, IN THEIR COMING AND THEIR GOING.
MAY EVERY SITUATION THEY ARE CALLED TO RESPOND, TO BE RESOLVED IN YOUR WILL.
MAY THEY HEAR YOUR VOICE AND WALK IN EVERY STEP THAT YOU ORDER, YOUR WILL BE DONE.
AGAIN, I PRAY THAT YOU WILL GUIDE THEM WITH YOUR DIRECTION AND THEY BE REMINDED OF THEIR TRAINING.
GIVE THEM A QUICK RECALL WITHOUT DOUBT OR HESITATION.
OUR GREATEST PETITION TO YOU TODAY IS THAT WHEN THEY LEAVE THEIR HOMES AND LOVED ONES, PLEASE ALLOW THEM TO RETURN AND FIND THEM, EXCUSE ME, THAT THEY MAY, WHEN THEY LEAVE THEIR HOMES, THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO RETURN AND FIND THEM BETTER THAN WHEN THEY LEFT.
WE PRAY THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES AND CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN WILL ACCEPT AND SUPPORT THESE SOON TO BE NEW OFFICERS AS THEIR PEACEKEEPERS WHO YOU HAVE SOW DESIGNED AND SENT TO BE OF SERVICE TO YOUR PEOPLE.
ONE CORINTHIANS 15 AND 57 SAYS, BUT THANKS BE TO GOD WHO GIVES US THE VICTORY IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.
CHIEF ON BEHALF OF THE ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CHIEF OF POLICE, LISA DAVIS, I THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY ON THIS VERY SPECIAL OCCASION.
I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND, EXTEND A SPECIAL THANKS TO CASEY, PASTOR CASEY BENSON OF THE BANNOCKBURN CHURCH FOR THE USE OF THIS BEAUTIFUL FACILITY.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE DISTINGUISHED GUESTS ON STAGE AND IN THE AUDIENCE WHO HAVE JOINED US FOR OUR COMMISSION COMMISSIONING CEREMONY.
PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE TO THE END CHIEF OF POLICE, LISA DAVIS, CHIEF OF STAFF, ROBIN HENDERSON, ASSISTANT CHIEF JEFF GREENWALT, ASSISTANT CHIEF JAMES MASON, ASSISTANT CHIEF ERIC MACY, ASSISTANT CHIEF ERIC FITZGERALD, ASSISTANT CHIEF LEE ROGERS, TRAINING LIEUTENANT ASHLEY EDWARDS, THE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT MICHAEL BULLOCK, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MAYORS HAROLD, THE HR MANAGER, JANET THOMAS, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, EDDIE GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER MARK UCHIN AND THE HONORABLE HUNDRED 47TH CRIMINAL DISTRICT JUDGE CLIFF BROWN.
I ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERS WHO ARE IN THE AUDIENCE.
THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF OF STAFF, ROB BYERS, ASSISTANT CHIEF ANDRE DEA, EMS, CHIEF, CHIEF LURES AND CHIEF OF STAFF, WES HOPKINS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE A PD COMMAND STAFF FOR JOINING US THIS AFTERNOON.
THERE IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT GROUP OF PEOPLE I WISH TO RECOGNIZE AND THAT IS A STAFF OF THE RECRUITING AND TRAINING DIVISION.
IT IS THROUGH THE COLLECTIVE EFFORTS OF THESE OFFICERS, SUPERVISORS, AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ASSEMBLE THIS GROUP OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED POLICE CADETS AND TRANSFORM THEM INTO OFFICERS IN THE FINDS POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE NATION.
WOULD ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE RECRUITING AND TRAINING DIVISION PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED?
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THE MEMBERS OF THE RECRUITING AND TRAINING DIVISION REPRESENT THE BEST OF THE BEST.THIS IS A CELEBRATION OF ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE 29 CADETS SEATED IN FRONT OF ME, AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE THIS DAY POSSIBLE.
THESE CADETS SET THEIR GOALS AND SUCCEEDED IN COMPLETING THE MOST PHYSICAL INTENTS AND ACADEMICALLY RIGOROUS POLICE TRAINING REGIMEN IN THE NATION TO THE FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE PROVIDED CARE, SUPPORT, AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE DURATION OF THE ACADEMY.
WE ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR ATTENDANCE HERE TODAY.
THIS AFTERNOON WE WILL HONOR AUSTIN'S NEWEST POLICE OFFICERS, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AND CURRENTLY SERVE AS PEACE OFFICERS WOULD ALL ACTIVE AND RETIRED PEACE OFFICERS.
EACH OF YOU HAS EARNED OUR THANKS AND RESPECT FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND SERVICE.
FINALLY, I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO PAY RESPECT TO THOSE OFFICERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, STATE AND NATION WHO HAVE GIVEN THE FINAL MEASURE OF THEIR DEDICATION AND MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE BY GIVING UP THEIR LIVES IN A LINE OF DUTY.
PLEASE JOIN, JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SOLE IN THEIR HONOR.
IT'S MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER, THE HONORABLE JUDGE CLIFF BROWN OF THE ONE 47TH CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT.
CLIFFORD A BROWN RECEIVED HIS BBA IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE FROM DELPHI UNIVERSITY IN NEW YORK.
HE EARNED A JURIS DOCTORATE AT THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY NATIONAL LAW CENTER IN WASHINGTON DC.
MR. BROWN HAS EXTENSIVE LITIGATION EXPERIENCE HAVING WORKED AS BOTH A DEFENSE ATTORNEY AND PROSECUTOR AFTER LAW LAW SCHOOL SCHOOL.
HE ACCEPTED A POSITION AS AN ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY WITH THE BRONX DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN NEW YORK CITY, WHERE HE PROSECUTED A WIDE VARIETY OF CRIMES INCLUDING CHILD ABUSE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ROB ROBBERY, AS WELL AS HOMICIDE CASES.
IN JANUARY, 2007, MR. BROWN WAS SELECTED TO SERVE AS A CITY OF AUSTIN POLICE MONITOR, AND IN NOVEMBER, 2010, MR. JUDGE BROWN WAS ELECTED TO SERVE AS A STATE DISTRICT COURT JUDGE OF THE 1 47 DISTRICT COURT IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
HE TOOK THE BENCH IN JANUARY, 2011.
NOW PRESIDES OVER THE MOST SERIOUS FELONY CASES, ENSURING THAT ALL PARTICIPANTS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE TREATED WITH FAIRNESS, DIGNITY, AND RESPECT.
HE'S PRESENTLY THE PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE TRA TRAVIS COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS.
PLEASE WELCOME THE HONORABLE JUDGE CLIFFORD BROWN.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
WE ARE HERE FOR A CELEBRATION.
UM, AND FIRST OF ALL, LET ME JUST SAY TO THE GRADUATES AND THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS AND ALL, UH, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS IS SO, UH, HAPPY.
I'M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE, TO BE A PART OF THIS, UH, DAY.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WANNA SPEAK TO YOU ALL AND SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU CADET SOON TO BE OFFICERS ON THIS TREMENDOUS ACCOMPLISHMENT.
UM, WHAT A MILESTONE IN YOUR LIVES AND IN YOUR CAREERS.
YOU'VE SPENT THE PAST 32 WEEKS, UH, TAXING YOURSELVES, UH, MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND, UM, I THINK I HEARD, UH, CHIEF GASLAND SAY THAT THERE STARTED WITH OVER 60 AND THERE'S ONLY 29 OF YOU, SO YOU DID IT.
AND SO FOR THAT, CONGRATULATIONS.
UM, BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T EVEN START FROM THE OUTSET AND SAY THANK YOU TO YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS.
UM, AND COULD ALL THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF THESE CADETS PLEASE STAND? CAN ALL THE FAMILY MEMBERS PLEASE STAND? UM, YES.
SO THE, THE, THE CAREER, THE CAREER THAT YOU'VE CHOSEN IS TRULY, IT'S A FAMILY ENDEAVOR.
AND SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS FOR ALLOWING YOU THE GREAT PRIVILEGE OF SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY.
NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK KEITH DAVIS.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I GOT A CHANCE TO MEET KEITH DAVIS, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, UM, THANK THE ENTIRE COMMAND STAFF.
I WANT TO THANK, UH, EVEN IN HIS ABSENCE, I WANT TO THANK, UH, CHIEF LEE DAVIS, I'M SORRY, COMMANDER LEE DAVIS FOR PERSONALLY INVITING ME TO SPEAK HERE TODAY.
UM, I DON'T TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY LIGHTLY.
UM, I UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, UM, TO THIS DEPARTMENT, HOW IMPORTANT IT'S TO YOU AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO THIS COMMUNITY,
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UH, FOR YOU ALL TO JOIN THE RANKS OF THE FINEST POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THIS COUNTRY.I DON'T, AND AND I DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY, UM, TO BE INVITED TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY BECAUSE CERTAINLY YOU COULD HAVE ASKED ANY NUMBER OF PEOPLE FAR MORE QUALIFIED THAN MYSELF TO SPEAK WITH YOU.
AND SO I CONSIDER IT A PRIVILEGE, UH, TO DO SO, AND I THANK YOU, SEE FOR THAT.
UM, BUT I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY FILLED WITH MORE, MORE THAN ANYTHING WITH GRATITUDE AND, AND REALLY GRATITUDE AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, UM, FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND YOUR SACRIFICE, YOUR DEDICATION AND YOUR RESOLVE THAT YOU'VE SHOWN TO GET TO THIS POINT.
UH, IF, IF I WERE A, A, A BAPTIST PREACHER, UM, CHAPLAIN, I WOULD, AND I WAS GONNA TAG THIS, UH, REMARKS.
I, I WOULD JUST SAY SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY, BUT THANK GOD I'M NOT.
'CAUSE IF I WERE, WE MIGHT GET OUTTA HERE JUST IN TIME FOR DINNER.
UM, BUT TRULY THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT, SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S THE RECURRING THEME HERE.
AND WHAT I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT, UM, I, I KNOW I SAID IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE, BUT THAT EVEN SEEMS HOLLOW TO ME, UH, TO JUST SAY THAT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THOSE WORDS EVEN EXPRESS, UH, THE DEEP AND PROFOUND RESPECT THAT I HAVE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
UM, AND THAT IS BORN OUTTA MY OVER 36 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH AND ALONGSIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
UM, I, I, I SPENT 10 YEARS AS A PROSECUTOR, BOTH HERE IN NEW YORK CITY.
I SPENT SEVEN YEARS AS A DEFENSE ATTORNEY, BOTH HERE IN NEW YORK CITY.
UM, I SPENT FOUR YEARS AS THE POLICE MONITOR HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.
AND, UH, MOST RECENTLY, FOR THE PAST NEARLY 15 YEARS, I'VE BEEN, UH, PRESIDING OVER THE ONE 47TH DISTRICT COURT AND CURRENTLY THE PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE TRAVIS COUNTY, UM, CRIMINAL COURTS AND ALL THOSE YEARS, UM, ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES I'VE HAD, AND I WAS SPEAKING JUST BEFORE I CAME IN WITH, UH, ASSISTANT CHIEF GASLIN IS THE TIME I SPENT, UH, WORKING AS A COMMUNITY PROSECUTOR FOR A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS.
AND I, I OFFICE THAT OF A TINY OFFICE IN NORTH SUBSTATION OFF OF LAMPLIGHT VILLAGE.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE DA AT THE TIME WAS RONNIE EARL, AND HE JUST TOLD ME, YOU'RE NOW A COMMUNITY PROSECUTOR.
GO IN THE COMMUNITY AND DO SOMETHING GOOD.
AND, UH, WITHOUT ANY REAL SCRIPT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, UH, I SAW FIRSTHAND THE POWER OF THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY AND HOW POWERFUL AND IMPACTFUL THAT CAN BE.
I REMEMBER, AND I'M, I'M SURE YOU REMEMBER, UM, CHIEF LEY, UH, YOU KNOW, THE WORK THAT WAS DONE WITH THE POLICE UP ON BROWNIE DRIVE, AND IT WAS A BIG, HUGE OPERATION AND DID SO MUCH CLEANUP AND THERE WOULD, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE THINGS OUT THERE FOR KIDS AND THERE WERE JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND, UH, IT WAS JUST TREMENDOUS.
AND I GOT TO SEE FIRSTHAND THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP AND PROBABLY THE MOST REWARDING, UH, THING I EVER SAW.
YOU KNOW, NOT MAYBE EVEN, UH, JUST PROFESSIONALLY MAYBE IN MY LIFE, UH, THE POWER OF JUST WHAT A FEW COMMITTED INDIVIDUALS CAN DO.
AND I, I, I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE NORTH AUSTIN, UH, COMMUNITY CENTER.
UM, IT IS, UH, ON BERG LANE, AND THAT COMMUNITY CENTER WAS BORN OUT OF THE COMMITMENT OF JUST A FEW CITIZENS FROM THE NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND MEMBERS OF THE, UH, AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO SITTING IN A ROOM ALONG WITH MYSELF, JUST, UH, LOOKING AT THAT AREA OF NORTH AUSTIN ABOVE 180 3 TO THE, UH, EAST OF 35 TO THE WEST OF MOPAC, UP TO PAR LANE.
AND THERE WERE NO COMMUNITY CENTERS IN THAT AREA.
AND SO THESE PEOPLE JUST GOT TOGETHER AND SAID THAT, HEY, LISTEN, UH, JUST AS AN OUTLET FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, UH, WE NEED TO HAVE A COMMUNITY CENTER THERE.
AND JUST THE POWER AND THE RESOLVE OF PEOPLE GETTING TOGETHER IN THAT PARTNERSHIP, UH, THESE PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND POLICE DEPARTMENT LOBBIED VARIOUS, UM, CITY COMMISSIONS AND, UH, ULTIMATELY THE CITY COUNCIL TO, UH, FOR THE CITY TO GO INTO PARTNERSHIP, TO YMCA, TO DO A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO, UH, FUND THAT YMCA AND THAT COMMUNITY CENTER.
AND THAT IS ALL BORN OUT OF A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND POLICE.
AND SO I STAND HERE TODAY AND I SAY, I SEE AND HAVE FIRSTHAND WITNESSES WITNESS THE POSSIBILITIES OF PARTNERSHIP.
AND SO I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I DON'T HAVE ANY SOLOMONIC WISDOM TO GIVE TO YOU TODAY.
UM, AND WHEN I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHAT I WOULD SHARE WITH YOU, UH, IT JUST OCCURRED TO ME THAT I COULD ONLY SHARE WITH YOU, UH, BASED ON MY VARIED EXPERIENCE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE REALITIES OF YOUR CHOSEN
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PROFESSION THROUGH THE PRISM OF MY PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE.I'VE NEVER BEEN A POLICE OFFICER, BUT I'VE WORKED IN AND AROUND LAW ENFORCEMENT MY ENTIRE CAREER.
AND LET ME START BY SAYING, WHAT IS PROBABLY THE MOST OBVIOUS THING THAT, UH, ANYBODY COULD EVER SAY, AND THAT WHILE YOU'VE CHOSEN A VERY REWARDING POSITION, IT IS EQUALLY DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING, AND YOUR CAREER WILL BE EQUALLY DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING, AND YOU WILL BE CALLED UPON TO ACT IN MANY DIFFERENT CAPACITIES, AND YOU'RE GONNA BE CALLED UPON TO WEAR MANY DIFFERENT HATS.
SO YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA BE A POLICE OFFICER, SURPRISE.
YOU ARE ALSO GONNA BE CALLED UPON AT TIMES TO BE A SOCIAL WORKER, A MEDIATOR, A PSYCHOLOGIST, A MARRIAGE COUNSELOR, A PROBLEM SOLVER, A MEDIC, A MENTOR, A MECHANIC.
SOMEBODY STOP ME WHEN I SAY SOMETHING THAT'S NOT CORRECT.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS THROUGH MY PRISM.
I'VE NEVER BEEN A POLICE OFFICER, BUT YOU WILL BE CALLED, UH, TO SITUATIONS IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THERE ARE NO EASY ANSWERS OR PERFECT SOLUTIONS, ONLY THE BEST DECISION THAT CAN BE MADE IN A DIFFICULT MOMENT.
AND YOU WILL UNDOUBTEDLY EXPERIENCE FRUSTRATION, EXHAUSTION, EVEN DESPAIR, BUT YOU WILL ALSO KNOW WHAT DROVE YOU ALL TO COMMIT TO THIS PROFESSION.
AND THAT IS THE HONOR OF SERVING SOMETHING GREATER THAN YOURSELVES.
YES, BACK TO THAT THEME OF, UH, SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND AS A JUDGE THE SACRIFICES THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS MAKE EVERY DAY AND THE WEIGHT OF THE BADGE YOU WEAR.
AND I ALSO KNOW THAT DESPITE EVEN MY BEST INTENTIONS, EVEN MY ROLE IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS SOMETIME VIEWED WITH SKEPTICISM JUST AS YOURS MOST UNDOUBTEDLY WILL BE AT TIMES.
BUT WE, ME AND YOU, WE CANNOT LET DOUBT NOR EVEN DISDAIN, DETER OUR COMMITMENT TO FAIRNESS, JUSTICE, AND ULTIMATELY SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I WON'T LET IT AND NOR SHOULD YOU IN THOSE MOMENTS, I REMIND MYSELF WHY I DO WHAT I DO, AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THE SAME.
AND SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO, UH, SPEAK AN ENCOURAGING WORD TO YOURSELF.
AND SO SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THINK I'M CRAZY AND I TALK TO MYSELF, AND I ENCOURAGE MYSELF, AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THE SAME.
HERE IS THE STARK REALITY THAT YOU HAVE TO RECOGNIZE.
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE, UH, SOMETIMES BASED ON THEIR OWN PERSONAL LIVED EXPERIENCE THAT HAVE A LACK OF TRUST FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND THERE WILL BE THOSE THAT DOUBT YOU, THAT DISTRUST YOU.
AND THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN THE UNIFORM YOU WEAR WILL DRAW JUDGMENT BEFORE YOU EVEN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN YOUR MOUTH OR SPEAK A WORD.
BUT UNDERSTAND THIS, YOU ARE NOT JUST AN INDIVIDUAL WEARING A BADGE TO THE PERSONS YOU ENCOUNTER DAILY.
ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE THE TOTALITY OF NOT JUST THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WHEN YOU INTERACT WITH A CITIZEN, EVERY SINGLE INTERACTION, NO MATTER HOW SHORT, HOW INNOCUOUS IT COULD BE, DEALING WITH A, A CHILD ON THEIR WAY TO SCHOOL OR DEALING WITH AN INDIVIDUAL AND PHYSICAL OR EMOTIONAL CRISIS.
BUT EVERY SINGLE, UH, ENCOUNTER IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHAPE IN SOME INSTANCES AND TO RESHAPE IN SOME INSTANCES, UH, PEOPLE'S THOUGHT ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT.
YOU ARE REPRESENTING THIS DEPARTMENT AND EVERY WOMAN AND EVERY MAN THAT HAS, UH, EVER WORN THAT BADGE AND WALKED IN YOUR SHOES, YOU ARE NOW WALKING IN THEIR SHOES, AND IT IS THROUGH YOUR ACTION.
AND THESE ENCOUNTERS THAT WILL SHOW THAT THE BADGE YOU WEAR IS NOT A SYMBOL OF POWER, BUT IT REPRESENTS THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVICE.
SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY AND EVERY CITIZEN ENCOUNTER YOU GET TO SHAPE WHAT THAT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY WILL BE.
AND WHILE IT'S GREAT TO HAVE LIKE OPERATIONS LIKE BROWNIE DRIVE AND, UH, TO DO THINGS AS GREAT AS FORM A COMMUNITY CENTER, UM, IT, IT, THOSE THINGS AND HAVE TOWN HALLS AND COMMUNITY FORMS, THOSE THINGS ARE GREAT.
THEY'RE NECESSARY, BUT IT'S THE MUNDANE, EVERY DAY INTERACTION DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A CALL.
IT COULD JUST BE, UH, AN INTERACTION THAT YOU HAVE WITH ANY CITIZEN THAT IS WHAT REALLY IS GOING TO SHAPE AND RESHAPE THE COMMUNITY AND POLICE DIVIDE.
AND SO YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY A PART IN THAT.
NOW, I READ YOUR, UM, VISION STATEMENT AND YOUR MISSION STATEMENT AND YOUR VALUE STATEMENT, AND I FIND IT TO BE SO MEANINGFUL, AND I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD ALWAYS HOLD ONTO THAT, PARTICULARLY THE
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VALUE STATEMENT.I CARE, RIGHT? I KNOW Y'ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH THAT, RIGHT? Y'ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH THAT.
UM, AND YOU HAVE TO CARRY THAT WITH YOU AND BE GUIDED EVERY DAY BY THAT, UM, INTEGRITY, THE CORNERSTONE OF WHAT YOU DO AND HOW YOU DO IT.
ACCOUNTABILITY TO THIS COMMUNITY, TO YOURSELVES, TO EACH OTHER, AND TO THE DEPARTMENT.
DON'T WAIT FOR SOMEONE ELSE WHEN YOU FALL SHORT, AND WE ALL DO, YOU JUST GET UP, DETERMINE TO DO BETTER AND BE BETTER RESPECT ACROSS THE BOARD, PERIOD FOR EVERYONE ETHICAL DECISION MAKING IN ALL THAT YOU DO.
WHAT I KNOW IS THAT, UH, POLICING IS A HUMAN SERVICE ACTIVITY.
AND SIMPLY PUT, YOU ARE DEALING WITH AND SERVING PEOPLE.
THE ONE UNIVERSAL TRUTH THAT I HAVE FOUND, UH, NOT JUST IN MY CAREER BUT IN MY LIFE, IS THAT PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE.
PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE IRRESPECTIVE OF YOUR ZIP CODE, YOUR TITLE, YOUR GENDER, YOUR RACE, YOUR SEXUAL IDENTITY OR ORIENTATION, OR YOUR RELIGION.
WHAT I FOUND IS THAT PEOPLE WANT THE SAME THINGS.
EVERYBODY WANTS THE SAME THING.
WE WANNA LIVE IN SAFE COMMUNITIES.
WE WANT OUR KIDS TO GO TO GOOD SCHOOLS.
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A DECENT LIVING TO PROVIDE FOR OUR FAMILIES.
AND IF THIS IS A HUMAN SERVICE ACTIVITY TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY, YOU HAVE TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT YOUR, YOUR ADDRESS WHERE YOU LIVE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT RELATIONSHIP AND BEING A PART OF THE FABRIC OF THIS COMMUNITY.
NOW, MOST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE, UH, GREAT SIR ROBERT PEELE, WHO WAS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE FATHER, RIGHT? YOU'RE FAMILIAR, THE FATHER OF MODERN POLICING AND HIS MOST OFTEN, OFTEN QUOTED PILLAR OF POLICING IS THAT THE POLICE ARE THE PUBLIC, AND THE PUBLIC ARE THE POLICE.
AND THAT WAS TRUE IN 1829, AND IT'S STILL TRUE TODAY.
THE MOST SIMPLE AND UNIVERSAL TRUTH IN GUIDANCE I CAN LEAVE YOU WITH IS, AS I CLOSE, IS TREAT PEOPLE THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE TREATED.
IF YOU APPROACH EVERY CALL, EVERY ENCOUNTER, AND EVERY CHALLENGE WITH YOUR CORE ICARE VALUES, YOU WILL HONOR THE OATH THAT YOU TAKE TODAY, AND YOU WILL, UH, AND ALL THAT SERVE WITH YOU AND HAVE SERVED BEFORE YOU.
YOU ARE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON A REWARDING CAREER THAT'S CERTAINLY GONNA BE UPS AND DOWNS AND TWISTS AND TURNS, AND IT WON'T BE EASY, AND THERE'LL BE DIFFICULT MOMENTS, BUT ALWAYS REMEMBER IN THOSE MOMENTS WHY YOU DECIDED TO SACRIFICIALLY SERVE THIS COMMUNITY.
HOLD ON TO THAT, BOTTLE IT UP BECAUSE THERE ARE GONNA BE TIMES WHEN YOU NEED TO REMIND YOURSELF ON THAT.
AND THAT WILL BE YOUR, THAT WILL BE YOUR ENERGY PACK, THAT WILL BE YOUR, UH, BATTERY TO CHARGE AND RECHARGE.
REMEMBER WHY YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU DO.
NOW, RECENTLY, I WAS AT A, UH, A LITTLE AWARD CEREMONY WHERE A FRIEND OF MINE, UH, RECEIVED A, SHE'S AN ATTORNEY AND SHE RECEIVED A, AN AWARD, UM, FOR JUST LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT.
UM, AND SHE SAID SOMETHING, IT WAS SO PROFOUND TO ME, IT WAS JUST SO SIMPLE, BUT SO PROFOUND.
AND BASICALLY WHAT SHE SAID IS THAT SHE WORKED FOR A STATE AGENCY FOR OVER 30 YEARS, AND SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, LISTEN, THERE'S GONNA BE NO, UH, BUILDINGS OR MONUMENTS IN MY NAME, YOU KNOW, AND SO I, SHE REALLY APPRECIATED AND WAS SO SWEET AND HUMBLE ABOUT IT.
BUT THE POINT BEING IS THAT SHE KNEW THAT SHE, SHE WASN'T A PERSON WHO WAS GOING TO BE RECOGNIZING ME.
RIGHT? AND IT JUST RESONATED WITH ME BECAUSE I KIND OF FEEL THE SAME WAY, RIGHT? UM, YOU JUST GOTTA PUT YOUR HEAD DOWN AND DO THE WORK, AND BE ABOUT THE WORK AND ABOUT THE SERVICE, RIGHT? IT'S NOT ABOUT RECOGNITION, BUT WHEN I WAS THINKING ABOUT COMING AND SPEAKING WITH YOU, IT, I, I THOUGHT ABOUT HER REMARKS AND THEN IT BROUGHT TO MIND, UH, A POST I RECENTLY, NOT THAT RECENTLY, MAYBE A FEW MONTHS AGO, I READ, AND I PROMISE I'M NOT STALKING YOU CHIEF, I PROMISE, BUT I READ A POST THAT YOU POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
UM, AND BASICALLY IT WAS A, A COMMENDATION, A RECOGNITION OF A PARTICULAR OFFICER.
I DON'T, I WISH I REMEMBERED HIS NAME.
I DON'T REMEMBER HIS NAME, BUT I REMEMBER THE SCENARIO, AND IT WAS JUST MOVED ME SO MUCH BECAUSE WHAT IT WAS, WAS THAT THIS PARTICULAR OFFICER, AND I'M SURE YOU CAN REMEMBER, SEE, HE, UH, GOT A CALL FOR SERVICE AND AN 8-YEAR-OLD CALL HAD CALLED AN 8-YEAR-OLD CHILD, HAD CALLED 9 1 1, AND HIS PARENT PASSED AWAY SUDDENLY.
I DON'T KNOW THE, THE ACCOMMODATION DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF IT, BUT
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OUR LIMITATIONS AND FORCE US TO CONFRONT OUR WEAKNESSES.ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE LESSONS A BOXER LEARNS IS THAT WHEN THEY GET PUNCHED IN THE MOUTH KNOCKED DOWN, THAT THEY AREN'T OUT OF THE FIGHT.
THESE LESSONS CAN ONLY BE LEARNED BY EXPERIENCE.
SO EVENTUALLY, WHEN THE PERIL AND THE CHAOS AND THE GRIEF INEVITABLY COME, YOU'LL HAVE THAT STACK OF EVIDENCE AND YOU'LL HAVE TO WASTE TIME TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER YOU'RE UP FOR THE CHALLENGE.
NOTHING REALLY CHANGES ABOUT OUR APPROACH.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY, TAKE CARE OF YOUR MINDS, TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.
WHILE TODAY MARKS A SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT, WE ALL KNOW THAT THE FINISH LINE WILL NEVER STOP MOVING.
AS WE APPROACH WHAT WE'RE SEEKING, THE GOALPOSTS WILL MOVE FURTHER AWAY, LEAVING US PERPETUALLY CHASING SOMETHING JUST OUT OF REACH.
THE TRAP, THE GOAL THAT WAS ONCE GRADUATE, THE ACADEMY BECOMES GET OFF.
FTO BECOMES COMPLETE, THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD.
ULTIMATELY, THERE IS NO FINAL DESTINATION WHERE THE WORK IS EVER FINISHED.
THE WORK WE SET OUT TO DO IS IMPORTANT WORK.
DON'T FORGET THOUGH, AS YOU'RE OUT THERE TRYING TO FIND MEANING IN YOUR WORK AND NEEDING TO MATTER, THAT YOU ALREADY DO.
YOU MATTER A GREAT DEAL TO ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TRAVELED HERE FOR YOU.
AND NO AMOUNT OF SUCCESS AT WORK CAN MAKE UP FOR FAILURE AT HOME.
OUR FIRST AWARD THIS AFTERNOON WILL BE PRESENTED BY THE CORPORAL, THE CADET TRAINING UNIT, CORPORAL CARTER ROONEY.
OUR FIRST AWARD THIS AFTERNOON IS THE HUMANITARIAN AWARD.
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EACH CADET CLASS NOMINATES A FELLOW CADET TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD TO HONOR THEM AS THEIR CLASS HUMANITARIAN.THE HUMANITARIAN AWARD WAS ESTABLISHED AND NAMED AFTER RETIRED, A PD LIEUTENANT ERNIE HENKEL TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY.
LIEUTENANT HENKEL WAS THE CLASS PRESIDENT OF THE 23RD CADET CLASS COMMISSIONED ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 1960.
HE SPENT HIS ENTIRE CAREER AS A STREET OFFICER.
ERNIE PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT IN 1973, WHERE HE REMAINED IN PATROL FOR 22 YEARS 'CAUSE HE NEVER WANTED TO LEAVE THE STREET.
AT ONE TIME, LIEUTENANT HINKLE WAS THE MOST DECORATED POLICE OFFICER IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, RECEIVING OVER 200 AWARDS IN ACCOMMODATIONS.
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 PROFESSIONALISM.
LIEUTENANT HINKLE RETIRED ON NOVEMBER 25TH, 1995, AND HAD 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.
LIEUTENANT HINKLE PASSED AWAY ON MARCH 26TH, 2023.
HE REMAINS IN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS AS THE SYMBOL OF WHAT A GREAT OFFICER SHOULD BE.
COURAGEOUS AND KIND, HONORABLE AND HUMBLE, PRINCIPLED, WITH A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE FRAILTY OF THE HUMAN CONDITION.
THE ONE 53RD CADET CLASS, ERNIE HINKLE HUMANITARIAN AWARD WINNER IS JAMIE ORFF.
OUR NEXT AWARD WILL BE PRESENTED BY THE SERGEANT OF THE CADET CADET TRAINING UNIT, SERGEANT ADRIANA WASHINGTON.
OUR LAST AWARD THIS AFTERNOON IS THE HONOR CADET AWARD.
THE HONOR CADET IS SELECTED BY THE TRAINING STAFF AS THE CADET WHO BEST EXEMPLIFIES A COMBINATION OF THE SKILLS AND QUALITIES THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO THE TRAINING PROGRAM.
THOSE SKILLS AND QUALITIES ARE LEADERSHIP, INTEGRITY, PROFESSIONALISM, INITIATIVE, HARD WORK, DEPENDABILITY, AND OVERALL PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE.
THE CADET WHO BEST REPRESENTS THESE SKILLS FROM THE 153RD CADET CLASS IS CADET FRANCISCO SADA.
THANK YOU, SERGEANT WASHINGTON.
NOW IT'S MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE MY BOSS, NEWLY NEW TO AUSTIN SINCE SEPTEMBER, THE CHIEF OF POLICE, AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, LISA DAVIS.
ALL RIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, ACADEMY STAFF, AND MEMBERS OF THE HUNDRED AND 53RD GRADUATING CADET CLASS.
FIRST, LEMME SAY THAT IS MY PRE PLEASURE AND A DISTINCT HONOR TO BE HERE WITH YOU ON THIS VERY SPECIAL OCCASION.
I'M THRILLED AND PROUD TO STAND HERE AND CELEBRATE THIS ACHIEVEMENT WITH YOU.
LET ME BEGIN BY ADDRESSING OUR NEWEST POLICE OFFICERS.
YOU HAVE FINALLY REACHED THE BIG DAY, A DAY.
SOME OF YOU HAVE DREAMT OF AND WORKED FOR YOUR ENTIRE LIFE.
AND AFTER OVER 33 YEARS OF SERVICE, I CAN REMEMBER THE DAY THAT I SAT IN THAT CHAIR WHERE YOU ARE.
AND SO I KNOW HOW EXCITED, HOW EXCITED YOU FEEL TODAY.
YOU GRADUATE PREPARED TO FACE ALL THE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES BEFORE YOU, AS YOU JOIN OUR AUSTIN POLICE FAMILY.
THIS, THE NEW FRONTIER IN POLICING AND MANY CHALLENGES ARE AHEAD FOR YOU.
HOWEVER, YOU ARE ALL WELL PREPARED.
YOU ARE DISCIPLINED, EDUCATED, AND PHYSICALLY FIT.
YOU HAVE TRAINED HARD AND HAVE DEMONSTRATED TEAMWORK SHOWING A SOLID WORK ETHIC.
THE ACADEMY STAFF AND INSTRUCTORS HAVE PREPARED YOU WELL, BUT THE REST IS UP TO YOU.
YOUR CAREER AND WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT IS YOUR DECISION.
LOOKING BACK OVER THESE MANY YEARS, IT WAS THE TRAINING MY FAMILY AND MY FAITH, WHICH CARRIED ME THROUGH TO THIS VERY DAY.
AND I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOUR ACADEMY TRAINERS, SUPERVISORS, AND THESE COMMANDERS
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OVER HERE SHARE THE SAME SENTIMENT.THINGS HAVE CERTAINLY CHANGED SINCE THE DAYS I WAS PATROLLING AS A YOUNG OFFICER, BUT AS MUCH AS THINGS HAVE CHANGED, THINGS HAVE REMAINED THE SAME.
THE COMMUNITY STILL LOOKS TO US TO MAINTAIN PEACE AND ORDER IN AN OFTEN DISORDERLY WORLD.
SO WE MUST CONTINUE TO BE THE PROTECTORS AND GUARDIANS OF THE COMMUNITIES.
WE, WE ARE CALLED TO SERVE AND REMEMBER, YOU CAN CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF PEOPLE'S LIVES BY TREATING PEOPLE WITH FAIRNESS, RESPECT, AND BY BEING TRUSTWORTHY.
I'M GONNA SHARE A STORY WITH YOU.
WHEN I, I THINK I WAS RELEASED FROM MY FTO PROBABLY TWO DAYS, TWO DAYS OFF ON MY OWN, AND I GOT A CALL FOR A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DISTURBANCE, AND I GO TO THIS CALL AND DIDN'T WAIT FOR BACKUP.
I JUST WENT AND I COME IN AND THERE'S A LADY IN THE KITCHEN WITH TWO LITTLE KIDS BEHIND HER, AND I GO IN TO, TO TALK TO HER ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND AS SHE'S HUDDLED IN THIS CORNER, HER HUSBAND COMES IN AND I TURN, AND HE'S PROBABLY TWO SIZES BIGGER THAN ME.
WE DIDN'T HAVE TASERS IN, SO HERE, HERE WAS THE MACE.
I MACE HIM AND THE FIGHT WAS ON.
AND LUCKILY, ABOUT 15 MINUTES INTO IT, UM, HERE COMES OFFICER JC WHITEHEAD, NEVER FORGET IT, AND WE GOT HIM IN HANDCUFFS, AND HERE I WAS TWO DAYS IN, AND THAT WAS THE JOKE IS YOU ALREADY HAVE A MACING TWO DAYS ON YOUR OWN.
BUT 15 YEARS LATER, 15 YEARS LATER, I'M A LIEUTENANT AND I'M HAVING ROLL CALL OR SHOW UP AS WE CALL IT HERE, AND I GET CALLED TO THE FRONT DESK IF THERE'S SOMEBODY THERE TO SEE ME, AND I COME UP TO THAT FRONT DESK, AND THERE'S A LADY AND TWO, TWO GIRLS IN THEIR EARLY TWENTIES AT THE DESK WAITING FOR ME, AND I COME OUT AND THEY INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.
IT WAS THAT LADY AND HER TWO DAUGHTERS WHO WANTED TO THANK ME FOR SAVING THEIR LIVES AND FOR CHANGING THEIR LIVES, BECAUSE WHAT I DID FOR HER MEANT EVERYTHING.
I REMEMBER THE, THE MACING, THE FIRST MACING OF MY CAREER.
MY POINT IS NEVER DOUBT EVERY CALL THAT YOU RESPOND TO, YOU CAN CHANGE SOMEONE'S LIFE.
SO WE WILL CONTINUE OUR COMMITMENT TO BEING ONE OF THE BEST POLICE AGENCIES IN THE COUNTRY BY PROVIDING THE BEST SERVICE POSSIBLE BY KEEPING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SAFE, ENGAGING COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, REDUCING CRIME THROUGH PROBLEM SOLVING AND PROMOTING FAIR AND EQUITABLE POLICING.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PURSUE YOUR CAREER WITH VIGOR, INTEGRITY, PROFESSIONALISM, AND ENTHUSIASM, SHOW COMPASSION TO OTHERS AND MAINTAIN A POSITIVE OUTLOOK EVEN ON OUR MOST CHALLENGING DAYS.
MAKE TIME FOR YOUR FAMILY AND SPEND YOUR FREE TIME WITH THEM BY BEING THERE AND BY BEING PRESENT.
FINALLY, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAINTAIN YOUR SENSE OF DUTY WITH DIGNITY AND DISCIPLINE.
KEEP YOUR HEAD HIGH AND YOUR EYES FOCUSED.
SOCIETY HAS VESTED IN YOU A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.
DON'T BE IMPRESSED BY YOUR AUTHORITY, BUT RATHER BE HUMBLED BY IT.
FOR IT'S MUCH LARGER THAN ANY OF US ARE.
AS INDIVIDUALS NOW TO THE FAMILIES, TO THE HUSBANDS, THE WIVES, THE SIGNIFICANT, SIGNIFICANT OTHERS, THE SIBLINGS, AND TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE RAISED THESE FINE OFFICERS, I ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE LOVING THEM AND SHOWING YOUR SUPPORT.
YOU MAY NOT EVER FULLY UNDERSTAND THEIR CALLING OR THEIR PURPOSE, BUT PLEASE RECOGNIZE THEIR COMMITMENT AND THEIR SACRIFICE TO THE TRAINING STAFF.
YOU SHOULD BE PROUD, AND I'M PROUD OF ALL OF YOU.
YOU HAVE PREPARED THESE YOUNG OFFICERS WELL, AND FOR THAT, WE ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL GRADUATES.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON AN EXCITING AND NOBLE CAREER DONE PROPERLY.
IT IS THE BEST AND MOST REWARDING JOB.
LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER, AND ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING.
NOW, THE MOMENT THESE CADETS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR TOURS FOR SO LONG, EIGHT MONTHS IS A LONG TIME DEPENDING OF THE AUSTIN POLICE BADGE AND THE OATH OF OFFICE MEMBERS OF THE ONE 53RD CADET CLASS.
IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS, YOU'LL OFFICIALLY BE SWORN IN AS AWESOME POLICE OFFICERS.
THE BADGE WITH WHICH YOU ARE ABOUT TO BE PRESENTED SHOULD ALWAYS BE WORN WITH COURAGE, RESPECT, AND HUMILITY.
YOUR ACTIONS THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER WILL BE A REFLECTION ON THIS BADGE, YOUR CHARACTER, AND OUR DEPARTMENT.
WEAR THIS BADGE WITH PRIDE, DEFENDANT WITH HONOR, AND ALWAYS SEE IT AS A SYMBOL OF THE SACRED TRUST BETWEEN YOU AND THE C COMMUNITY WE SERVE.
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE CADET TRAINING SERGEANT ADRIANNA HAM, WASHINGTON.
AGAIN, WHO'LL BE CALLING THE NAMES OF THE CADETS WITH THEIR BADGE, P SERGEANT WASHINGTON.
AS I ANNOUNCED THE NAMES FOR THE 153RD CADET CLASS, EACH CADET AND THE PERSON SELECTED TO ACCOMPANY THEM WILL COME FORWARD ONTO THE STAGE FOR THE
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BATCH PENDING ABDULLAH ASHLEY, WHERE HE WOULD BE PINNED BY HIS BROTHER, ABDO RAMAN, GERARDO BENITEZ ANTE.HE WILL BE PINNED BY HIS WIFE, MAA MARIZA, AND HE'LL BE ACCOMPANIED BY HIS SISTER, JESSICA, UNCLE BENNY AND CAL, AUNT LUCY AND JACKIE, ALL ERNEST CALHOUN JR.
HE WILL BE PINNED BY HIS FATHER, EARNEST AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS SISTER, JESSICA, UNCLE BENNY AND CAL, AUNT LUCY AND JACKIE JOHN CAVAZOS.
HE WILL BE PINNED BY HIS MOTHER, CHRISTINA, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS GIRLFRIEND, DEMAURICE.
NEXT WE WILL HAVE ALAN DE MARTINI, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HIS FATHER, DAVID, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS MOTHER, DEBORAH DE MARTINI.
THIS NEXT, WE WILL HAVE TARA DURAN, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HER HUSBAND, ANTONIO, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HER CHILDREN, MATEO, ELIA, ADRIAN, AND MAYA,
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LOOK OVER HERE.NEXT WE HAVE ANDY GARCIA, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HIS FATHER, RAFAEL, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS FATHER, RANDY COUSIN SHAENA.
NEXT WE HAVE JOE GARCIA, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HIS PARTNER EMILY, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS FATHER, JOSE GARCIA AND SISTER SAMANTHA GARCIA.
NEXT WE HAVE MARCEL GILES, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HIS MOTHER, BRIDGET JENKINS, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS DAUGHTERS, MARIANA AND MARIAH, STEPFATHER, RANDY AND SIBLINGS CAMERON AND WHITNEY.
NEXT WE HAVE CALLIE HOFF, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HER WIFE, CHERRY.
NEXT WE HAVE SHUN JANG, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HIS MOTHER, ME YOUNG J NAME, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WIFE, JUNG JUAN LEE, AND SON GIO DYLAN KABECK, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HIS WIFE, GABRIELA, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS PARENTS, ROBIN AND MICHAEL, AND GODFATHER ALLEN.
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NEXT WE HAVE JAMES LAMBRECHT, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HIS BROTHER, TOM LAMBRECHT.FIREFIGHTER WITH THE HAYES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT.
HE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY HIS GIRLFRIEND, KAYLIN, AND HER SON GAVIN, ALONG WITH HIS FATHER RUSSELL AND SISTER TESS.
NEXT WE HAVE WYATT LATO, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HIS MOTHER PATTY AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS FATHER SHANE.
NEXT WE HAVE OMAR OUS RAMIREZ, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HIS MOTHER, CLAUDIA, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS STEPFATHER, MAURICIO BROTHERS AND JESSE.
NEXT WE HAVE STEVEN RA, A GUDO WHO WILL BE A, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HIS FATHER, ESTEBAN RA CASTILLO, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS MOTHER MARIA, SISTER SYLVIA BROTHER-IN-LAW'S, JOSE LOPEZ AND JOSE RICO.
NEXT WE HAVE TIMOTHY LONGMORE, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HIS WIFE SARAH, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS DAUGHTERS, DIANA AND ELIZABETH.
NEXT WE HAVE REGINA LOZADA, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HER BOYFRIEND RONNIE, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HER BROTHERS, EDUARDO, JONATHAN AND IVAN ANDREW MAESTES, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HIS PARTNER ANDREA, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS STEPSONS JACK AND AC.
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NEXT WE HAVE RENEE MATO KING JR.WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HIS FATHER, RENEE, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS MOTHER, SIKA AND GIRLFRIEND LEONY.
NEXT WE HAVE LOUISE MARTINEZ, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HIS WIFE, LISA ASHBY, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS SON, LIAM AND MOTHER-IN-LAW, JANET GAVIN MCGEE, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HIS MOTHER, KIRSTEN, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS FATHER, HAROLD WOO, JERSON MORALES ORA, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HIS WIFE, SYLVIA OR ZKO, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS BROTHER, ZER.
JAMIE ORFF, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HER HUSBAND THOMAS, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HER DAUGHTER HAILEY.
FRIENDS CURRENT AIR FORCE AND PRIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, OFFICER SERGEANT SANDRA RANKIN, DAN MCINTYRE, COLONEL US ARMY, AND TRACY MCINTYRE.
SAMUEL OWENS WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HIS UNCLE KEVIN AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WIFE SAMANTHA AND DAUGHTER MARGO.
LET'S JACOB RANIER, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HIS MENTOR, FRANKLIN COUNTY, OHIO, SHERIFF'S DEPUTY MARK GOHAR, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS GIRLFRIEND, SAMMY.
BROTHERS JOSH AND LUKE SOLOMON SALL, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HIS GIRLFRIEND,
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JENNIFER FRANCISCO.SADA TIINA, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HIS FATHER, PABLO AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS MOTHER, DELIA BROTHERS, PABLO, ALEJANDRO, JUAN PABLO, AND GIRLFRIEND ELISE.
THANK BRITTANY SANTANA WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HER MOTHER, JENNIFER, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HER FATHER, JOSE AND DAUGHTER ZENA.
THIS IS YOU CAN, CHIEF DAVIS NOW WILL ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE.
I STATE YOUR NAME, A ABDEL GERARDO, BE ERNEST CAHO, JOHN ADAMS DUR.
ANDY GARCIA, JOE GARCIA, MARC JONES, KELLY HUDDLE.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE AND PERFORM I'LL FAITHFULLY AND PARTIALLY ALL THE DUTIES AND COMING UP ON ME, ALL THE DUTIES AND COMING UPON AS A POLICE OFFICER, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AS A POLICE OFFICER OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY SKILL AND ABILITY, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY SKILL AND ABILITY, MY ACTIONS WILL ALWAYS BE EXECUTED.
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EXECUTED WITHIN THE SPIRIT OF THE CONSTITUTION, WITHIN THE SPIRIT OF THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TO THE BOSTON, UNITED STATES, THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.I FURTHER SOLEMNLY SWEAR, I FURTHER SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY TO THE, THAT WILL FAITHFULLY TO THE DEPENDS TO THE DEMANDS FOR TRU TRUTH AND HONESTY, THE DEMANDS FOR TRUTH AND HONESTY.
AS ESTABLISHED BY MY PROFESSION, I'M ESTABLISHED, MY PROFESSION, AND THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I'LL BE PROFESSIONAL IN ALL REGARDS.
I'LL BE PROFESSIONAL IN ALL REGARDS, RESPECT, AND OBEY MY SENIORS IN RANK, RESPECT, AND OBEY MY SENIORS IN RANK, AND ENFORCE THE LAW, AND ENFORCE THE LAW WITHOUT FEAR, FAVOR, OR DISCRIMINATION.
WITHOUT FEAR, FEAR OR DISCRIMINATION, I WILL DEVOTE MY EFFORTS AND SKILLS.
I'LL DEVOTE MY EFFORTS AND SKILLS TO THE HONORABLE PROFESSION OF POLICING, TO THE HONORABLE PROFESSION OF POLICING, AND TO THE SERVICE OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND INDIVIDUALS, AND TO THE SERVICE OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND INDIVIDUALS OF THIS COMMUNITY, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, OF THIS COMMUNITY, THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I WILL ASSIST THOSE IN PEARL OR DISTRESS.
I'LL ASSIST THOSE IN PER OR DISTRESS, AND IF NECESSARY, LAY DOWN MY LIFE AND IF NECESSARY, LAY DOWN MY LIFE RATHER THAN SWERVE FROM THE PATH OF DUTY, RATHER THAN SWERVE FROM THE PATH OF DUTY.
ON BEHALF OF THE RECRUITING AND TRAINING STAFF AND THE ENTIRE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT FAMILY, I WANNA CONGRATULATE AD'S NEWEST POLICE OFFICERS.
THANKS AGAIN TO ALL FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO SUPPORT IT AND ENCOURAGEMENT HAVE MADE THEIR JOURNEY POSSIBLE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS CONCLUDES TODAY'S CEREMONY.
REFRESHMENT, SPONSORED BY THE A PD CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATION WILL BE SERVED IN THE FOYER.
OFFICER MAESTAS AS YOUR LAST OFFICIAL ACTIVE CLASS PRESIDENT, WILL YOU PLEASE DISMISS THESE OFFICERS VISION OF THE DEPARTMENT THAT IS TRUST AND RESPECTED BY ALL, I WISH OUR COMMUNITIES TAKE OFF THE CITY OF AMERICA MISSION, YOU FAMILY, OUR COMMUNITIES.
I, I CARE THE COURT POLICE WORK WITHOUT PUBLIC TRUST LAWS, COURAGE TO MAKE RIGHT PROFESSIONAL DECISIONS ACCOUNTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY DEPARTMENT COWORKERS, RESPECT OF THE COMMUNITY DEPARTMENT ITSELF.
PROFESSIONAL ACTION, DECISION MAKING, CLASS 1, 5 3, DISMISS PURPOSE.