[Austin 156th Austin Police Academy Graduation Ceremony]
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GOOD AFTERNOON LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
MY NAME IS COMMANDER RICHARD EAGLE.
I'M THE COMMANDER OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT'S RECRUITING AND TRAINING DIVISION.
I EXTEND MY THANKS TO EACH OF YOU FOR JOINING US THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE COMMISSIONING CEREMONY FOR THE 156TH CLASS OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IT IS AN HONOR FOR ME TO CELEBRATE THE GRADUATION OF AUSTIN'S NEWEST POLICE OFFICERS WITH ALL OF YOU.
ON SEPTEMBER 29TH, 2020 5, 49, MEN AND WOMEN CAME TOGETHER FROM A VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS, COMMUNITIES TO UNDERGO THE TRAINING REQUIRED TO BECOME AUSTIN POLICE OFFICERS.
AFTER 32 WEEKS OF RIGOROUS TRAINING, THE 157 SIXTH CADET CLASS, UM, 36 OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE SUCCEEDED IN THEIR GOAL.
THEY HAVE MET OUR DEMANDING PHYSICAL, ACADEMIC, AND ETHICAL STANDARDS.
THEY NOW HAVE THE PRIVILEGE, THE RESPONSIBILITY, AND THE HONOR OF WEARING THE BADGE OF AN AUSTIN POLICE OFFICER.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE STAND AND WELCOME THE GRADUATES OF THE 156TH CADET CLASS OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE COLORS BY THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT'S HONOR GUARD AND THE SINGING OF THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER BY AUSTIN POLICE, SENIOR POLICE OFFICER TODD GOLD PREVIEW.
OH OH, YOU UNIFORM PERSONNEL RAISE HOPE, CLAP, FREEZE NAME UP.
OH, SAY CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWNS EARLY LIGHT WHAT SURPRISE PROUDLY WE HELD AT THE TWILIGHT LAST CLEAN
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WHOSE BROUGHT STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THROUGH THE PAIR LOST OR THE ROCK PARTS WE WATCHED WERE STREAMING AND THE ROCKS THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT A FLAG WAS STILL OH, THAT STARS THE, THE FREE AND THE OF THE BRAVE OH OH WORD, ALL UNIFORM MEMBERS, PLEASE REMOVE YOUR COVER FOR THE INVOCATION, WHICH WILL BE DELIVERED BY A PD CHAPLAIN, CRAYOLA BURNS AND TWO, ADJUST.THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE.
MAY WE REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT.
IF WE COULD ALL JUST BOW OUR HEADS AND PREPARE OUR HEARTS MOST HEAVENLY FATHER GOD, WE BEGIN TODAY'S PRAYER WITH PSALMS ONE 18.
THIS IS THE DAY THAT YOU HAVE MADE AND WE ARE GOING TO REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT BECAUSE YOU HAVE PRESENTED US WITH 36 NEW INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL HAVE THE HEARTS, THE MINDS, THE COURAGE TO GUIDE AND PROTECT OUR CITIZENS OVER THE NEXT COMING YEARS.
FATHER GOD, PLEASE JOIN US IN THIS SANCTUARY.
ALLOW YOUR HOLY SPIRIT TO ENCOMPASS EVERY CREVICE AND EVERY HEART IN THIS PLACE.
REMIND OUR CADETS OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT THEY HAD WITH THE CHAPLAINS CORPS THAT JUST AS IN THE BOOK OF ESTHER, THEY HAVE BEEN CHOSEN FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS MANY RECEIVE THE CALL, BUT FEW RESPOND.
LORD, THANK YOU LORD, YOUR PEOPLE, THANK YOU FOR THIS NEW GROUP OF OFFICERS.
WE THANK YOU THAT WHEN THEY OPEN THEIR HEARTS TO YOU THAT THEY WILL SERVE YOU WITH HONOR, INTEGRITY, AND COMPASSION.
I PRAY THAT THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WILL BE SUPPORTIVE AND NOT FEARFUL.
LORD, WE THANK YOU THAT THEY HAVE BEEN LED BY AT THIS POINT BY THE GREATEST TRAINING TEAM THAT PELL'S NONE IN COMPARISON.
CONTINUE TO BLESS OUR EXECUTIVE STAFF AND THE INDIVIDUALS WHO THEY DEPEND ON FOR SUPPORT.
AND AS IT SAYS IN ZACHARIA, IT TELLS US THAT EVERY GREAT STORY BEGINS HUMBLY AND MADE THIS HUMBLE BEGINNING LEAD TO NOTHING BUT THE GREAT EXPECTATIONS AND THE GREATNESS THAT IS WITHIN THEM.
GOD, WE CAN DO NOTHING WITHOUT YOUR GRACE AND YOUR MERCY.
THANK YOU FOR SENDING YOUR SON JESUS THAT WE MAY HAVE A WAY BACK HOME AND HIS WITH HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS.
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KEEP US, KEEP THESE INDIVIDUALS.KEEP THEM LORD AS THEY GO OUT TO PROTECT YOUR PEOPLE, TO GUIDE YOUR PEOPLE.
THEY WILL BRAVE THE STREETS OF OUR CITY AND OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH THEM.
IN THE NAME OF YOUR SON JESUS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE COMMISSIONING AND GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR THE 156TH CADET CLASS IS UNDERWAY.
ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CHIEF OF POLICE, LISA DAVIS, I THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY ON THIS VERY SPECIAL OCCASION.
I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A SPECIAL THANKS TO PASTOR GALEN CLARK AND DENISE SOWELL OF GREATER MOUNT ZION CHURCH FOR THE USE OF THIS BEAUTIFUL FACILITY.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE DISTINGUISHED GUESTS THAT WE HAVE WITH US ON STAGE AND IN THE AUDIENCE WHO HAVE JOINED US FOR OUR COMMISSIONING CEREMONY.
PLEASE EVERYONE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL EVERYONE HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED.
UM, FIRST WE HAVE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE CHETO, VELA CITY COUNCIL MEMBER PAIGE ELLIS, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, JOHN FORTUNE.
WE HAVE CHIEF OF POLICE, LISA DAVIS, CHIEF OF STAFF, LEE ROGERS, ASSISTANT CHIEF JAMES MASON, ASSISTANT CHIEF MICHAEL CHANCELLOR, ASSISTANT CHIEF ANGIE JONES, ASSISTANT CHIEF JJ SCHMIDT.
WE HAVE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS POLICE CHIEF SHANE STREE.
WE HAVE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, DR. KEVIN FOSTER AND WE HAVE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER.
THAT'S ALL I MISS ANYBODY? MARK UCH.
I'VE JUST BEEN TOLD COUNCIL MEMBER MARK UCHIN HAS ARRIVED.
SORRY SIR, I DIDN'T SEE YOU OVER THERE.
I WAS A LITTLE FOCUSED ON WHAT I WAS DOING.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMAND STAFF FOR JOINING US THIS AFTERNOON.
UM, HOWEVER, THERE IS ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT GROUP I WISH TO RECOGNIZE.
WITHOUT THIS GROUP, THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND THANK THE STAFF OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT RECRUITING AND TRAINING DIVISION.
IT IS THROUGH THE COLLECTIVE EFFORTS OF THESE OFFICERS, SUPERVISORS, AND THE PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT STAFF THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ASSEMBLE THIS GROUP OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED POLICE CADETS AND TRANSFORM THEM INTO OFFICERS IN THE HIGHTEST TO POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE NATION.
WOULD ALL MEMBERS OF THE RECRUITING AND TRAINING DIVISION PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED? OH, YOU GET IT.
THIS IS A CELEBRATION OF ACHIEVEMENT OF THE 36 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 PHYSICALLY INTENSE 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 THIS ACADEMY.
WE ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR ATTENDANCE HERE TODAY.
FAMILY MEMBERS THIS AFTERNOON WE'LL HONOR AUSTIN'S NEWEST POLICE OFFICERS, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AND CURRENTLY SERVE AS PEACE OFFICERS IN TEXAS AND ACROSS OUR NATION WOULD ALL ACTIVE AND RETIRED PEACE OFFICERS IN THE AUDIENCE.
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
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IN OUR COMMUNITY, STATE OF TEXAS AND OUR NATION WHO HAVE GIVEN THE FINAL MEASURE OF THEIR DEDICATION AND MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE BY GIVING UP THEIR LIVES IN THE LINE OF DUTY.PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO HONOR THE FALLEN.
THANK YOU CHIEF SHANE STRIPY SERVES AS CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHERE HE LEADS EFFORTS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS COMMUNITY.
HE WAS APPOINTED CHIEF OF POLICE IN SEPTEMBER, 2024 AFTER JOINING U-P-T-U-T-P-D EARLIER THAT YEAR AS ASSISTANT CHIEF RESPONSIBLE FOR PATROL AND INVESTIGATIVE OPERATIONS.
CHIEF STREE PREVIOUSLY SERVED 21 YEARS WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT WHERE HE BEGAN HIS CAREER IN 2003 AS A PATROL OFFICER IN SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN.
OVER THE COURSE OF HIS CAREER, HE HELD NUMEROUS OPERATIONAL AND INVESTIGATIVE ASSIGNMENTS AND SERVED ON SPECIALIZED TEAMS INCLUDING THE SPECIAL RESPONSE TEAM, COUNTER ASSAULT STRIKE TEAM AND THE CRITICAL INCIDENT NEGOTIATIONS TEAM.
HE ALSO SERVED AS A FIELD TRAINING OFFICER AND AS A MEMBER OF THE STREET RESPONSE UNIT FOCUSED ON QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES IN AUSTIN.
NEIGHBORHOODS PROMOTED TO DETECTIVE.
HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE ORGANIZED CRIME DIVISION WHERE HE WORKED IN NARCOTICS AND WITH THE FBI'S SAFE STREETS TASK FORCE AS A DEPUTIZED FEDERALLY TASK FORCE OFFICER, HIS TEAM RECEIVED THE MERITORIOUS UNIT AWARD FOR THEIR WORK DISMANTLING OF VIOLENT CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE.
AS A SERGEANT CHIEF STREET, HE SUPERVISED PERSONNEL IN THE STREET NARCOTICS UNIT AND TACTICAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT, AS WELL AS SERVING ON A DEPUTIZED TASK FORCE WITH THE US MARSHAL'S LONE STAR FUGITIVE TASK FORCE.
THE TACTICAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT RECEIVED THE US MARSHAL SERVICE DISTINGUISHED GROUP AWARD FOR ITS INNOVATION, INNOVATIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF BODY-WORN CAMERA POLICIES AND WAS ALSO RECOGNIZED AS AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT UNIT OF THE YEAR.
UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, FOLLOWING HIS PROMOTION TO LIEUTENANT CHIEF STREET, HE SIMULTANEOUSLY OVERSAW MULTIPLE INVESTIGATIVE UNITS, INCLUDING THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT, THE HOMICIDE, COLD CASE UNIT, THE MISSING PERSONS AND TACTICAL INTELLIGENCE.
IN THIS ROLE, HE SUPERVISED ELITE INVESTIGATORS AND ADVOCATED FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES AND TRAINING TO SUPPORT MODERN COLD CASE INVESTIGATIONS.
CHIEF STREETY HOLDS A BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.
EL PASO, A MASTER OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE FROM BOSTON UNIVERSITY AND A MASTER OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.
HE IS ALSO A GRADUATE OF THE NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF POLICE STAFF AND COMMAND WHERE HE RECEIVED THE FRANKLIN M CRIMINAL LEADERSHIP AWARD AND HE IS A RECIPIENT OF THE FBI LEADER A TRILOGY AWARD.
IN HIS FREE TIME IF HE HAS ANY, HE ENJOYS TRAVELING WITH HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND CHEERING ON THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS LONGHORNS, PLEASE JOIN ME IN A VERY WARM WELCOME FOR UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, CHIEF OF POLICE SHANE ST.
UH, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, CITY LEADERSHIP, A PD COMMAND, STAFF, HALF FAMILIES, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE 36 GRADUATING CADETS FROM THE 156 AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT ACADEMY.
UH, BEFORE I START, WE HAVE A UT FOOTBALL PLAYER, FORMER UT FOOTBALL PLAYER GRADUATING WHERE YOU AT? HOOK 'EM
WHERE YOU AT BEL AIR THOUGH, RIGHT? EASTWOOD.
SO I SPENT MORE THAN 21 YEARS WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT WORKING THESE STREETS AND LEARNING THIS JOB IN REAL TIME.
THIS DEPARTMENT SHAPED ME AS A POLICE OFFICER AND AS A LEADER AND THAT FOUNDATION STAYS WITH ME EVERY DAY, EVEN AS I SERVE ELSEWHERE NOW I GREW UP AT A PD, I WAS CHALLENGED HERE.
I ALSO BUILT FRIENDSHIPS HERE THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME.
I WORKED ALONGSIDE PEOPLE WHO MADE ME BETTER, PARTNERS WHO HELD ME ACCOUNTABLE, SUPERVISORS AND COLLEAGUES WHO PUSHED ME TO GROW AND TEAMS WHO EXPECTED ME TO SHOW UP PREPARED TO DO MY PART.
THOSE RELATIONSHIPS CARRIED ME THROUGH DIFFICULT MOMENTS, MADE THE GOOD DAYS BETTER AND SHAPED HOW I LEAD.
[00:20:01]
YEARS AGO TO THE DAY MY MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER WERE SITTING IN THESE VERY SEATS, MY GRANDMOTHER MARY PINNED MY BADGE ON MY CHEST OR DOWN.I NOW HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO LEAD AN ORGANIZATION THAT DEEPLY BELIEVES WHAT STARTS HERE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD FOR ME.
THE JOURNEY STARTED THAT DAY WITH MARY SETTING THE STANDARD I'VE TRIED TO LIVE UP TO EVER SINCE.
EARLY IN MY CAREER, I DID NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT I THOUGHT CHANGE CAME FROM BIG MOMENTS, BIG CASES, BIG DECISIONS, BIG EVENTS.
WHAT I LEARNED OVER TIME IS THAT REAL CHANGE USUALLY STARTS MUCH SMALLER.
STARTS WITH ONE DECISION, ONE INTERACTION, ONE OFFICER CHOOSING TO DO THE RIGHT THING CONSISTENTLY.
THAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY YOU TAKE ON STARTING TODAY.
YOU'VE EARNED THIS MOMENT, BUT GRADUATION IS NOT THE FINISH LINE.
IT'S THE POINT WHERE RESPONSIBILITY BECOMES REAL.
FROM THIS DAY FORWARD, YOU'LL BE TRUSTED WITH AUTHORITY, DISCRETION, AND JUDGMENT, OFTEN WITH LIMITED INFORMATION UNDER PRESSURE AND WITH CONSEQUENCES THAT LAST, THERE WILL BE DAYS WHEN YOU DO EVERYTHING RIGHT AND STILL GET QUESTIONED.
THERE WILL BE NIGHTS WHEN NO ONE THANKS YOU AND THERE WILL BE MOMENTS WHEN YOU STEP INTO SOMEONE ELSE'S WORST DAY AND ARE EXPECTED TO BRING CALM TO THE CHAOS THAT REALITY HAS NOT CHANGED.
WHAT MATTERS NOW MORE THAN EVER IS HOW YOU CARRY YOURSELVES THROUGH IT.
GOOD POLICING IS NOT COMPLICATED, BUT IT IS VERY DEMANDING.
IT REQUIRES DISCIPLINE, OWNERSHIP, RESILIENCE, INTEGRITY, AND A WILLINGNESS TO KEEP LEARNING THESE, THOSE EXPECTATIONS SHAPED MY CAREER AND THEY STILL GUIDE ME TODAY.
AND SO FOR THE NEXT FEW MINUTES, I WANNA SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE GRADUATING CLASS AND SHARE A FEW THINGS, THINGS I WISH SOMEONE HAD TOLD ME WHEN I WAS SITTING WHERE YOU ARE 23 YEARS AGO.
SET THE STANDARD THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE RANK, STRIPES OR SENIORITY.
IT SHOWS UP IN HOW YOU PREPARE, HOW YOU ARRIVE, AND HOW YOU TREAT PEOPLE EVERY DAY.
IT'S BEING ON TIME, IT'S BEING DISCIPLINED IN THE SMALL THINGS, IT'S DOING THE ROUTINE WORK WELL, EVEN WHEN NOBODY NOTICES.
YOU SET THE TONE BY HOW YOU WORK, NOT JUST BY WHAT YOU SAY.
THE COMMUNITY WILL NOT JUDGE THIS DEPARTMENT BY POLICY MANUALS OR MISSION STATEMENTS.
THEY WILL JUDGE IT THROUGH THEIR INTERACTION WITH YOU.
EVERY SHIFT, EVERY CALL, EVERY TIME, OWN THE WORK.
OWNERSHIP IS ONE OF THE HARDEST PARTS OF THIS PROFESSION AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT.
IT IS EASY TO MEET EXPECTATIONS WHEN SOMEONE IS WATCHING.
IT'S HARDER TO OWN OUTCOMES WHEN IT WOULD BE EASIER TO PASS RESPONSIBILITY TO POLICY, PROCEDURE OR SOMEONE ELSE.
OWNERSHIP MEANS SPEAKING UP WHEN NEEDED AND JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, KNOWING WHEN TO LISTEN.
IT MEANS LISTENING TO UNDERSTAND NOT JUST TO RESPOND.
IT MEANS SHOWING RESPECT CONSISTENTLY, NOT SELECTIVELY.
OWNERSHIP ALSO MEANS STEPPING FORWARD.
RAISE YOUR HAND FOR OPPORTUNITIES THAT CHALLENGE YOU.
TAKE ON ASSIGNMENTS THAT BROADEN YOUR PERSPECTIVE.
LEARN HOW THE DEPARTMENT WORKS BEYOND YOUR IMMEDIATE ROLE.
STAY ENGAGED WITH THE PLACE YOU SERVE.
DO NOT WAIT TO BE TAPPED ON THE SHOULDER.
BE OTHERS THAT SOMEONE CAN COUNT ON.
THE PUBLIC DOES NOT EXPERIENCING POLICING THROUGH SYSTEMS, THEY EXPERIENCE IT THROUGH PEOPLE.
BE THE OFFICER WHO OWNS THE OUTCOME.
THIS JOB WILL CHALLENGE YOU IN WAYS THE ACADEMY CANNOT FULLY PREPARE YOU FOR.
YOU WILL SEE THINGS THAT STAY WITH YOU.
YOU WILL HAVE CALLS THAT DO NOT END CLEANLY.
YOU WILL REPLAY DECISIONS LONG AFTER THE SHIFT IS OVER.
RESILIENCE DOES NOT MEAN PRETENDING.
EARLY IN MY CAREER I MADE A MISTAKE, ONE OF MANY.
I CRASHED MY PATROL CAR THROUGH AN APARTMENT COMPLEX FENCE, CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE, UH, AND WAS SUSPENDED.
I OWNED IT AND I LEARNED FROM IT.
IF I DON'T SLOW DOWN IN THE RAIN, I DON'T MAKE IT TO THE CALL.
IF I DON'T MAKE IT TO THE CALL, I CAN'T HELP MY PARTNER.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, I CAN'T HELP THE PERSON WHO CALLED 9 1 1.
SO THAT EXPERIENCE CHANGED HOW I WORKED, NOT JUST HOW I DROVE.
RESILIENCE MEANS REFLECTING, HONESTLY, ADJUSTING YOUR BEHAVIOR AND BECOMING BETTER BECAUSE OF YOUR FAILURE, NOT BITTER BECAUSE OF IT.
THIS PROFESSION IS DEMANDING AND NOBODY SUCCEEDS AT IT ALONE.
LEAN ON YOUR PARTNERS, YOUR FAMILIES, YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEMS DURING DIFFICULT TIMES.
AGAIN, WE CAN'T SUCCEED AT THIS ALONE.
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IS THE CORNERSTONE OF POLICING.IT SHOWS UP IN THE MOMENTS NO ONE APPLAUDS IN THE WAY YOU SPEAK TO PEOPLE.
AND WHETHER YOU SAY THANK YOU AND WHETHER YOU ADMIT WHEN YOU WERE WRONG AND ACTUALLY MEAN IT, INTEGRITY IS NOT TESTED.
WHEN THE RIGHT CHOICE IS OBVIOUS, IT IS TESTED.
WHEN THE RIGHT DECISION COSTS YOU SOMETHING, TIME, CONVENIENCE, APPROVAL OR COMFORT, YOUR INTEGRITY WILL FOLLOW YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER.
IT WILL SHAPE YOUR REPUTATION, YOUR CREDIBILITY, AND YOUR ABILITY TO LEAD.
WHETHER YOU PROMOTE OR NOT, DO THE RIGHT THING WHEN IT'S EASY, DO THE RIGHT THING WHEN IT'S HARD AND DO THE RIGHT THING WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING.
THE PROFESSION YOU'RE ANSWERING TODAY WILL NOT LOOK THE SAME 10 OR 20 YEARS FROM NOW.
COMMUNITIES CHANGE, EXPECTATIONS CHANGE.
POLICING MUST CONTINUE TO LEARN AND ADAPT.
THE OFFICERS WHO THRIVE OVER THE LONG HAUL ARE THE ONES WILLING TO GROW WITHOUT LOSING WHO THEY ARE OR WHY THEY SERVE.
FURTHER YOUR EDUCATION WHEN YOU CAN BECOME A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT IN SOMETHING THAT MATTERS TO THIS PROFESSION.
BUILD SKILLS THAT MAKE YOU VALUABLE TO YOUR TEAM, USEFUL TO YOUR DEPARTMENT AND TRUSTED BY YOUR PEERS.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, DO NOT EVER STOP BEING QUALIFIED FOR THE JOB.
STAY SHARP, STAY CURRENT, STAY PREPARED.
THE BADGE DOES NOT MAKE YOU QUALIFIED.
AND BEFORE I CLOSE, I WANNA BE CLEAR ABOUT SOMETHING THAT MATTERS DEEPLY TO ME, LEADERSHIP.
LEADERSHIP IN THIS PROFESSION DOES NOT START WITH RANK.
EVERY ONE OF YOU IS ALREADY A LEADER IN YOUR ACADEMY CLASS.
YOUR FUTURE SHIFTS AMONGST YOUR PEERS, YOUR FAMILIES, AND IN THE WAY YOU REPRESENTS THIS DEPARTMENT TO THE PUBLIC.
LEADERSHIP SHOWS UP AND HOW YOU CARRY YOURSELF ON A CALL AND WHETHER OTHERS CAN RELY ON YOU AND HOW YOU SPEAK TO PEOPLE WHEN EMOTIONS ARE HIGH AND PATIENCE IS THIN.
LONG BEFORE YOU SUPERVISE ANYONE, PEOPLE WILL BE WATCHING YOU.
THE PUBLIC WILL JUDGE THIS DEPARTMENT BY HOW YOU SHOW UP.
AND IN MOST CASES, YOU WILL ONLY HAVE ONE OPPORTUNITY TO SET THAT EXAMPLE, THAT RESPONSIBILITY STARTS.
NOW LET ME END WHERE I BEGAN ALL THOSE YEARS AGO.
MY GRANDMOTHER MARY PINNED MY BADGE ON MY CHEST.
WHEN YOU'RE STANDING IN FRONT OF SOMEONE ON A CALL, ESPECIALLY WHEN EMOTIONS ARE HIGH, TREAT THAT PERSON THE SAME WAY YOU WOULD WANT YOUR VERSION OF MARY OR SOMEONE YOU DEEPLY CARE ABOUT, TREATED.
LET IT GUIDE YOUR DECISIONS BECAUSE HOW YOU TREAT PEOPLE TELLS THE WORLD WHO YOU ARE AND WHO THIS DEPARTMENT IS.
THE SHIFTS ARE LONG AND THE WORK IS DEMANDING AND THE YEARS MOVE QUICKLY.
ENJOY THE WORK AS YOU LIVE IT.
APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE BESIDE YOU.
STAY ENGAGED WITH THIS DEPARTMENT.
THE RELATIONSHIPS YOU BUILD AND THE EXPERIENCES YOU GATHER ALONG THE WAY WILL MATTER MORE THAN YOU REALIZE.
SO AS YOU BEGIN, REMEMBER THIS, YOU'RE GONNA BE LEADING EVERY SHIP THAT YOU WORK THROUGH YOUR DISCIPLINE, THROUGH YOUR PREPARATION, THROUGH YOUR INTEGRITY, THROUGH YOUR PRESENCE, THROUGH THE WAY YOU TREAT PEOPLE, THROUGH THE STANDARD YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE BY.
WHEN NO ONE IS KEEPING SCORE, DO NOT WAIT FOR RANK TO START LEADING.
DO NOT WAIT FOR A TITLE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.
DO NOT WAIT FOR PERMISSION TO SET THE TONE.
THE STANDARD OF THIS DEPARTMENT WILL LIVE IN HOW YOU LEAD FROM YOUR VERY FIRST DAY FORWARD.
THAT'S LEADERSHIP AND THAT STARTS NOW.
I WILL ALWAYS BE PROUD TO SAY MY CAREER BEGAN RIGHT HERE WHERE YOURS BEGINS TODAY.
CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME TO THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
EACH CADET CLASS SELECTS ITS OWN OFFICERS SELECTION.
AS CLASS PRESIDENT IS BOTH AN HONOR AND A SIGNIFICANT RESPONSIBILITY, THE CLASS PRESIDENT IS EXPECTED TO SET AN EXAMPLE, PROVIDE LEADERSHIP, AND ACT AS THE CLASS OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE.
AS SUCH, THIS SELECTION SYMBOLIZES THE CONFIDENCE THE CLASS IS BESTOWED UPON THIS INDIVIDUAL.
THE 156 CADET CLASS HAS CHOSEN JESUS CONTRERAS AS THEIR PRESIDENT CADET CONTRERAS.
GOOD EVENING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
[00:30:01]
I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS SPECIAL OCCASION.THE JOURNEY UP TO THIS POINT HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT AND REGIMENTED, BUT VERY WORTH IT.
AS YOU LOOK AROUND THIS AMAZING CHURCH, THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT THAT WE RECEIVED IS VAST AND VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
WE AS CADETS COULD NOT HAVE REACHED THIS FEET WITHOUT OUR FAMILIES, SPOUSES, AND NUMEROUS CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES WHO ENSURED OUR SUCCESS DURING THE ACADEMY.
ALTHOUGH THE SUPPORT WE RECEIVED WAS GREAT, WE STILL HAD TO FACE DIFFICULT CHALLENGES IN THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS.
I STILL REMEMBER THE VERY FIRST DAY OF THE ACADEMY WHERE WE AS CADETS DROVE ON TO SHAW LANE SEEING THOSE RED AND BLUES FLASHING WITH CADRE SURROUNDING THE GATE.
AND THE FIRST THOUGHT THAT CAME TO MIND WAS, WHAT DID I JUST SIGN UP FOR? THE CADRE WERE PASSIONATE SERGEANTS, ALONG WITH OFFICERS WHO LED BY EXAMPLE EVERY DAY, VERY SQUARED AWAY AND POLISHED GROUP THAT DISPLAYED PROFESSIONALISM, RESPECT.
SINCE DAY ONE, THEY WERE VERY ATTENTIVE AND TAUGHT WITH PASSION AND THE NUMBER OF HOURS THAT MUST HAVE WENT INTO THE PROGRAM AND CURRICULUM DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED.
AND FOR THAT AS A CLASS, WE THANK YOU.
WE BEGAN OUR JOURNEY ON THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 22ND AS INDIVIDUALS WHO DESPERATELY WANTED A BADGE AND A PURPOSE IN LIFE.
BUT THAT WAS NOT POSSIBLE UNLESS WE WORKED TOGETHER.
ALONG SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AND EARLY MORNINGS, ACADEMICS TOOK OVER OUR LIVES INSTANTLY AS A CLASS, THERE WERE SO MANY MISTAKES IN THE BEGINNING WE, WE KNEW WE HAD TO MAKE SERIOUS CHANGES.
WE KNEW THAT IF WE WANTED MORE, WE MUST BECOME MORE.
AND THAT TERRIFIED US BECAUSE IT MEANT SOMETHING HAD TO DIE WITHIN US.
THE COMFORT, THE EXCUSES, THE PATTERNS THAT PROTECTED OUR EGOS, BUT STRANGLED OUR GROWTH, ALL OF IT HAD TO PERISH.
WE HAD TO WALK THROUGH FIRE AND LET IT BURN, BUT THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.
WE HAD TO DESTROY WHAT OUR IDENTITY WAS AT THE BEGINNING AND REBUILD NEW HABITS, NEW STANDARDS, NEW SYSTEMS ANEW US.
AND WHEN IT GOT UNCOMFORTABLE, WHEN IT FELT HARD AND FELT SO DIFFICULT THAT THE THOUGHT OF GIVING UP CREPT IN, THAT WAS THE MOMENT WE DOUBLED DOWN AS A CLASS AND BET ON OURSELVES.
WE BET THAT THIS MOMENT TODAY WAS SPECIFICALLY MEANT FOR US BECAUSE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF DISCOMFORT, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT FIRE IS WHO YOU ALL SEE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY, THE 1 56 CADET CLASS OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT TO THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
WE ARE HERE AND PREPARED TO KEEP YOU AND OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
OUR FIRST AWARD THIS AFTERNOON WILL BE PRESENTED BY UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR DR. KEVIN FOSTER.
FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, DR. FOSTER HAS TAUGHT THE HISTORY OF RACE AND POLICING FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE ACADEMY.
HE'S A 30 YEAR VETERAN EDUCATOR, EDUCATIONAL LEADER AND POLICY MAKER.
HE HAS WORKED IN SCHOOLS IN LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND AUTHORED DOZENS OF ACADEMIC ARTICLES.
HE HAS CURRENTLY VICE PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES, WHICH INCLUDES AN 85 OFFICER POLICE DEPARTMENT, SERVING AND PROTECTING THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND COMMUNITY ON THE DISTRICT'S 114 SCHOOL CAMPUSES AND RELATED FACILITIES.
HE IS ALSO THE ASSOCIATE CHAIR OF THE BLACK STUDIES DEPARTMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AUSTIN.
DR. FOSTER RECEIVED HIS PHD AND MA FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN AND HIS BA FROM THE COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY.
HE'S THE PARENT OF TWO YOUNG ADULTS, MALCOLM AND MARLEY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE WELCOME DR. KEVIN FOSTER.
OUR FIRST AWARD THIS AFTERNOON IS THE HUMANITARIAN AWARD.
EACH CADET CLASS NOMINATES A FELLOW CADET TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD TO HONOR THEM AS THEIR HUMANITARIAN.
THE HUMANITARIAN AWARD WAS ESTABLISHED AND NAMED AFTER RETIRED, A PD LIEUTENANT ERNIE HINKLE TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEPARTMENT AND TO 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 BECAUSE 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 AND COMMENDATIONS.
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.
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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.
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.
HONORABLE AND HUMBLE, PRINCIPLED WITH A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE FRAILTY OF THE HUMAN CONDITION.
THE 156TH CADET CLASS ERNIE HINKLE HUMANITARIAN AWARD RECIPIENT IS OZZY BA TOLU.
OUR NEXT AWARD WILL BE PRESENTED BY ASSISTANT CHIEF ANGIE JONES.
AND NOW OUR LAST AWARD THIS AFTERNOON IS THE HONOR CADET AWARD.
THE HONOR CADET IS SELECTED BY THE CADET CLASS AND SUPPORTED BY THE TRAINING STAFF AT OUR TRAINING ACADEMY 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 AND INTEGRITY, PROFESSIONALISM AND INITIATIVE, HARD WORK AND DEPENDABILITY, DEPENDABILITY, OVERALL PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE.
I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS CADET WOULD PREFER TO DO PUSHUPS AND BURPEES THAN WRITE AN ESSAY.
SO FAMILY MEMBERS REMEMBER THIS.
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GET 'EM, THAT'S HOW YOU'RE GONNA DO IT.
THE 1 56 UH, CADET CLASS HAS SELECTED CADET EDWARD ROYE.
IT IS MY HONOR TO NOW INTRODUCE THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT CHIEF OF POLICE, LISA DAVIS.
GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
WE ARE HERE TODAY TO WITNESS AND CELEBRATE SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY.
THESE 36 INDIVIDUALS WHO SIT BEFORE YOU HAVE COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO A CAREER OF PUBLIC SERVICE.
THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO ENRICHING AND PROTECTING THE LIVES OF OTHERS.
THEY HAVE CHOSEN A PATH OF PURPOSE AND SACRIFICE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, LET US TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SACRIFICES THE FAMILIES HAVE MADE TO HELP THESE CADETS ACHIEVE THIS IMPORTANT ACCOMPLISHMENT.
I KNOW, AND THEY KNOW THAT THEIR, THAT YOUR SUPPORT HAS BEEN CRUCIAL TO THEIR JOURNEY AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE ESSENTIAL AS THEY MOVE FORWARD IN THEIR CAREER.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE COMMANDER EAGLE AND OUR ACADEMY PERSONNEL.
THE DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT YOU HAVE PROVIDED TO OUR CADETS TO ENSURE THEY REACH THE FINISH LINE IS COMMENDABLE.
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO TO KEEP OUR OFFICERS AND OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
NOW I'D LIKE TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO A FEW IMPRESSIVE FACTS ABOUT THIS ACADEMY CLASS.
OUR AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR LARGER AUSTIN COMMUNITY VALUE DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, CULTURES, AND PERSPECTIVES.
AND THIS CLASS EMBODIES THOSE VALUES AND THIS CLASS THAT SITS BEFORE YOU.
I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT FOUR OF OUR CADETS HAVE PRIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE, WHICH THEY BRING WITH THEM ALONG WITH VALUABLE KNOWLEDGE AND A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON POLICING.
OUR DEPARTMENT AND COMMUNITY ALSO VALUE EDUCATION.
MANY OF OUR OFFICERS WORK TO EARN THEIR DEGREES WHILE RAISING FAMILIES AND SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS CLASS ALREADY HOLDS 10 BACHELOR'S DEGREES, A MASTER'S DEGREE,
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AND A DOCTORATE.ONE CADET IS A FORMER UT FOOTBALL PLAYER, WHILE ANOTHER HAS PRACTICED LAW FOR 20 YEARS.
OUR DEPARTMENT AND OUR COMMUNITY WILL BENEFIT FROM YOUR ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS WE ARE PROUD OF YOUR PAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CAN'T WAIT TO CELEBRATE THE FUTURE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
AS MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, THERE ARE MOMENTS IN THIS PROFESSION WHEN THE PAST AND THE FUTURE MEET IN A POWERFUL WAY, AND TODAY IS ONE OF THEM.
I WANNA PAUSE TO HONOR OFFICER ABDUL KLIK WHO GAVE HIS LIFE IN THE SERVICE OF HIS COMMUNITY.
HIS SACRIFICE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
AND TODAY HIS LEGACY STANDS BEFORE US IN A NEW WAY.
HIS SON, MALIK ABDUL KLIK AND HIS NEPHEW, WASIM SHAKI, ARE HERE GRADUATING TODAY.
I'M HONORED THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN THIS PATH.
YOU'VE DONE THE WORK AND YOU'VE EARNED YOUR PLACE.
HERE WE ARE HONORED TO SEE OFFICER ABDUL KALI'S LEGACY CARRIED FORWARD AND WE ARE PROUD TO WELCOME YOU BOTH INTO THIS PROFESSION.
TO ALL OF OUR GRADUATES, I EXTEND MY DEEPEST CONGRATULATIONS.
YOU HAVE WORKED INCREDIBLY HARD TO GET HERE.
TODAY IS A DAY TO BE PROUD OF WHAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED, BUT IS ALSO THE BEGINNING OF AN IMPORTANT JOURNEY.
ONE THAT CARRIES PROFOUND RESPONSIBILITIES AND AND OPPORTUNITIES POLICING SERVES AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLES IN SOCIETY.
EVERY DAY YOU'LL BE ENTRUSTED WITH THE SAFETY AND THE WELLBEING OF THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE.
THE BADGE YOU WEAR IS MORE THAN A SYMBOL OF AUTHORITY.
IT REPRESENTS TRUST, COURAGE, SACRIFICE, JUSTICE, FAIRNESS, AND COMPASSION.
WHEN THE JOB GETS HARD, AND BELIEVE ME IT WILL, I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THREE THINGS.
WHY YOU'RE HERE, WHY YOU'RE SITTING IN THAT SEAT.
THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN YOU FACE UNIMAGINABLE CHALLENGES, WHEN THE WEIGHT OF THAT BADGE FEELS VERY HEAVY, AND THOSE MOMENTS, REMEMBER WHY YOU CHOSE THIS PATH.
SECOND, STAY HEALTHY BOTH MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY.
YOUR LIFE AND THE LIVES OF THOSE AROUND YOU, INCLUDING OUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND FELLOW OFFICERS WILL DEPEND ON IT.
DON'T SURROUND YOURSELF WITH THOSE WHO COMPLAIN OR LOSE THEIR WHY.
TRY TO ENJOY EVERY MINUTE OF IT.
FINALLY, I MAKE THIS COMMITMENT TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES.
I WILL FIGHT EVERY DAY TO ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE THE BEST TRAINING, TECHNOLOGY, EQUIPMENT, AND WORK ENVIRONMENT TO ENSURE YOUR SAFETY AND WELLBEING.
AND REMEMBER TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES AND TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.
NOW THE MOMENT THESE CADETS HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARD FOR SO VERY LONG, THE PINNING OF THE AUSTIN POLICE BADGE AND THE OATH OF OFFICE MEMBERS OF THE ONE 56TH CADET CLASS.
IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS, YOU WILL BE OFFICIALLY SWORN IN AS AUSTIN 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.
WHERE THIS BADGE WITH PRIDE, DEFEND IT WITH HONOR AND ALWAYS SEE IT AS A SYMBOL OF THE SACRED TRUST BETWEEN YOU AND THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ALL SERVE.
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE A PD TRAINING ACADEMY, LIEUTENANT LORI MADANO, WHO WILL BE CALLING THE NAMES OF THE CADETS FOR THEIR BADGE PRINTING.
YOU LOOKING FOR THOSE? JUST TELL THEM TO TAKE THIS TO THIS LEVEL.
AS I ANNOUNCE THE NAMES FOR THE 156 CADET CLASS, EACH CADET AND THE PERSON SELECTED TO ACCOMPANY THEM WILL COME FORWARD ONTO THE STAGE FOR THE BADGE.
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WHEN YOU ALL GET YOUR CERTIFICATES, WILL YOU PLEASE HAND YOUR CERTIFICATE TO YOUR LOVED ONES SO THEY CAN TAKE IT WITH THEM? FIRST UP IS MALLEK ABDUL KLIK.HE'LL BE PINNED BY HIS GRANDFATHER, AMIR ABDUL KLIK SR.
HE IS BEING ACCOMPANIED BY HIS MOTHER, STEPHANIE JOHNSON, HIS WIFE, PAIGE BRIDGEMAN, SENIOR POLICE OFFICER, AUSTIN POLICE OFFICER CHRIS RSON AND LIBERTY HILL POLICE OFFICER RICK CHRISA AND HIS FRIEND DYLAN ROBERTS.
OZZY BY YALU IS BEING PINNED BY HIS WIFE LISA BY YALU, AND HE'S ACCOMPANIED BY HIS CHILDREN, KAYA PAUL ESTHER AND HIS GRANDCHILDREN.
JENNA BENNER IS BEING PI PINNED BY HER BROTHER, EVAN BENNER AND ACCOMPANIED BY HOWARD BENNER, HER FATHER, HER MOTHER, CRYSTAL STORY AND HER SISTER, HALEY BENNER, CHRISTIAN BENNER, I'M SORRY.
CHRISTIAN BEES IS BEING PINNED BY HIS PARTNER, AARON CHANCY AND BEING ACCOMPANIED BY HIS MOTHER AND FATHER, LILY AND MANUEL BERMUDAS AND HIS FRIEND MICHELLE S
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DORIAN BLACK IS BEING PINNED BY HIS FIANCE, TRINITY THORNTON.HE'S BEING ACCOMPANIED BY HIS MOTHER AND FATHER, RHONDA AND DERELL BLACK, HIS BROTHER ASHTON BLACK, HIS COUSIN TEVIN RICHARDSON, AND HIS COUSIN, NIKIA SUMMERLIN.
BENJAMIN BOSLEY IS BEING PINNED BY HIS BROTHER, GARRETT BOSLEY, AND HE'S ACCOMPANIED BY HIS SISTER, SAMANTHA BOSLEY.
COURTNEY HAMSTRA, HIS MOTHER, SCARLET MAJORS, HIS FATHER, PHILIP BOSLEY AND HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW, TIMOTHY HAMSTRA.
CADEN BRACHA IS BEING PINNED BY HIS FATHER, SCOTT BRACHA.
HE'S BEING ACCOMPANIED BY CHLOE FANN STILL AND HER MOTHER, MICHELLE FANN STILL.
MARISSA CARPENTER IS BEING PINNED BY HER MOTHER, DANELLE WILLIAMS AND ACCOMPANIED BY CHAZ WILLIAMS DAVIS, DANNY DAVIS, TIARA JACKSON, AND WENDELL RAMSEY, HER GODFATHER, CECILIA CARILLO IS BEING PINNED BY HER FRIEND ALBERTO GARCIA.
SHE'S ACCOMPANIED, SHE'LL BE ACCOMPANIED BY HER CHILDREN, LASSO ANZO AND EVA, HER FATHER-IN-LAW, UMBERTO FELES, HER MOTHER-IN-LAW, DELIA DOMINGUEZ, HER STEPMOTHER, REBECCA CARILLO, AND HER FATHER, MANUEL CARILLO.
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DANIEL CONTRARES IS BEING PINNED BY HIS MOTHER, GABRIELA CONTRARES.HE'LL BE ACCOMPANIED BY HIS BROTHER, LOS ANGELES POLICE OFFICER ADRIAN CONTRARES, HIS BROTHER, ERIC CONTRARES, HIS DAUGHTER ISABELLE CONTRARES, AND HIS FATHER, DANIEL CONTR.
JESUS CONTR IS BEING PINNED BY HIS PARTNER, BRIANNA PEREZ, AND IS BEING ACCOMPANIED BY ABRAHAM CONTR, HIS FATHER RES, HIS MOTHER AND HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW.
EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF DEPUTY CARLOS BATO.
CHRISTIAN DARDEN IS BEING PINNED BY HIS WIFE OF JOSIE DARDEN AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS FATHER, JOSH DARDEN, HIS MOTHER EMIL, OR EMILY DARDEN SISTER SHELBY TEAL AND BROTHER-IN-LAW, JACE CHASE TEAL.
MICHAEL GARCIA IS BEING PINNED BY HIS PARTNER, SUSANNA RUMLEY, AND BEING ACCOMPANIED BY HIS SISTER, HEATHER GRONER.
COLE HORTON IS BEING PINNED BY HIS WIFE, AVERY HORTON AND ACCOMPANIED BY CAMEO MCGRAW, HIS MOTHER, MIKE HORTON, HIS FATHER, ELLA HORTON, HIS SISTER AIDEN HORTON, HIS BROTHER, AND CARRIE MCGRAW.
HIS GRANDMOTHER, JONATHAN LINDSAY, IS BEING PINNED BY HIS PARTNER, JANIA JONES, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS MOTHER AND FATHER, ETHEL AND RUFUS BROWN.
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AMY MAHON RODNEY IS BEING PINNED BY HER PARTNER, JESSICA GARCIA.AND ACCOMPANIED BY HER MOTHER, ERICA MULLICAN, HER BROTHER JACOB NUNEZ, HER GRANDMOTHER, SUSAN MULLICAN AND HER COUSIN, NATALIE MOSHER.
ANGELICA MALDONADO IS BEING PINNED BY HER FRIEND, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TROOPER GABRIEL HERNANDEZ, AND IS ACCOMPANIED BY HER GRANDPARENTS, ANO AND MARIA MALDONADO, HER MOTHER, MARIBEL GONZALEZ, HER FATHER, JUAN MALDONADO AND HER DAUGHTER BELLA MALDONADO.
COURTNEY MARTIN IS BEING PINNED BY HER MOTHER, TRACY BARON AND IS ACCOMPANIED BY HER BROTHER, TAYLOR MARTIN AND STEPFATHER DAVID BARON.
ELIJAH MARTINEZ IS BEING PINNED BY HIS MOTHER, CINDY MARTINEZ, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS FATHER, RUBEN MARTINEZ AND SISTER SIERRA MARTINEZ.
CODY O'NEILL IS BEING PINNED BY HIS WIFE, ALICIA O'NEILL, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW, SHARON RILEY, FATHER-IN-LAW, RANDY RILEY, HIS MOTHER, PAM O'NEILL AND HIS FATHER, PERRY O'NEAL.
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CHRISTOPHER PALACIOS IS BEING PINNED BY HIS WIFE, CARMEN PALACIOS, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS DAUGHTERS KELLY, NATALIE AND LUNA PALACIOS, HIS SISTER ELISA PALACIOS, HIS BROTHER MANUEL PALACIOS AND HIS COUSIN JUAN LOPEZ.ALAN BA OSORIO IS BEING PINNED BY HIS FIANCE, ELIZABETH CORRE, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS MOTHER AND FATHER, ISABELLE AND LUPE BA, HIS SISTER DANIELLA FOSS AND HIS OTHER SISTER, CAITLYN FOSS.
JOCELYN PENA IS BEING PINNED BY HIS FATHER, RAMON PENA AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS MOTHER AR PENA GIOVANNI PENA, HIS BROTHER, HIS PARTNER LILY WYNN, AND HIS SISTER-IN-LAW, BELLA CORDES, ERIC RAMIREZ.
VERA IS BEING PINNED BY HIS PARTNER, KATYA ALAD, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS MOTHER AND FATHER, VERONICA AND MANUEL RAMIREZ, HIS SISTER VERONICA SHELL CASADA, HIS BROTHER, EDGAR RAMIREZ.
SISTER DIANA RAMIREZ, BROTHER MANUEL RAMIREZ, AND SISTER ASHLEY RAMIREZ.
ASHTON PHELPS IS BEING PINNED BY HIS FATHER, KEMP PHELPS, AND HE IS ACCOMPANIED BY HIS MOTHER, PAULA PHELPS, HIS BROTHER LANDON PHELPS, SISTER SAMANTHA PHELPS, AND SISTER CHARLIE PHELPS.
EDWARD ROY A IS BEING PINNED BY HIS FIANCE,
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MARLEY GUERRA, AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS CHILDREN, MILA AND WYATT, EXCUSE ME.ABEL SIGNS IS BEING PINNED BY HIS MOTHER, MELISSA RENEE SIGNS AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS FATHER, ABEL SIGNS HIS GRANDFATHER, DAVID BRIDGES GRANDMOTHER OPHELIA BRIDGES, HIS COUSIN GABRIELA BROWN, AND HIS COUSIN-IN-LAW, DAVID CARTWRIGHT.
MAYNARD SANDERS IS BEING PINNED BY HIS FRIEND ADAM COSTI AND BEING ACCOMPANIED BY HIS MOTHER, FRAN SANDERS, HIS DAD, SANDY SANDERS, HIS SISTER SARAH SPINELLI, HIS SISTER CAMILLE SANDERS AND HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW.
ANTHONY SPINELLI, THANK OMAR SWELL IS BEING PINNED BY HIS MOTHER, DONNA MONROE AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS COUSIN, ATAL MONROE, JONATHAN MCKAY, JASMINE MCKAY, BENJAMIN BURKE, AND DALLAS PD OFFICER DONALD BROWN.
WHAT SEEMS SHAKI IS BEING PINNED BY HIS WIFE, SALMA FANG, AND BEING ACCOMPANIED BY HIS MOTHER, JATHE ABDUL KLIK AND HIS FATHER, TARI SHAKI.
BRIAN STOKE IS BEING PINNED BY HIS WIFE, AARON STOK, AND BEING ACCOMPANIED BY HIS MOTHER, KAREN WOODRUFF, HIS GRANDFATHER, JAMES WOODRUFF, HIS FATHER, JAMES STOK, HIS BROTHER CURTIS STOKE AND HIS SISTER-IN-LAW.
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TBI IS BEING PINNED BY HIS FRIEND JEREMY STICK AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS FATHER.OBJECTION, OH, I'M SORRY, BY ASSAN EDDI, HIS FATHER, ABRAHAM TBI, HIS MOTHER, ZORA KUSH, DELL, AND HIS FRIEND JACOB STICK.
ALLEGRO RAVINO IS BEING PINNED BY HER PARTNER, JULIET, JANET, AND IS ACCOMPANIED BY HER PARENTS, BE ARMANDO REO ZACHARY TYLER IS BEING PINNED BY AUSTIN POLICE SERGEANT ARMANDO RODRIGUEZ AND ACCOMPANIED BY HIS BROTHER, TYLER.
JESSE VARGAS IS BEING PINNED BY HIS MOTHER.
ARIA GARCIA IS ACCOMPANIED BY HIS FATHER, CARLOS GARCIA, HIS SISTER ABIGAIL SANCHEZ, HIS SISTER ANDREA GARCIA, HIS SISTER GINA GARCIA AND HIS WIFE NINA VARGAS, I'M SORRY, NFA VAGAS.
BENJAMIN YI IS BEING PINNED BY HIS PARTNER, LINA BARTE, AND HE IS BEING ACCOMPANIED BY HIS FATHER DYE AND HIS MOTHER, LENA LEE.
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CONGRATULATIONS.CHIEF DAVIS WILL NOW ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE READY 10.
READY TWO, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
I STATE YOUR NAME, CHRISTIAN BER CHRISTOPHER JESSE MORGAN BENJAMIN.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE AND PERFORM THAT I'LL FAITHFULLY IMPART, DISCHARGE ALL THE DUTIES INCUMBENT UP ON ME, ALL THE DUTIES AND POWER ON ME AS A POLICE OFFICER OF 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.
MY ACTIONS WILL ALWAYS BE EXECUTED WITHIN THE SPIRIT OF THE CONSTITUTION, WITHIN THE SPIRIT OF THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I FURTHER SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I FURTHER SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL BE FAITHFUL TO THE DEMANDS FOR TRUTH AND HONESTY, THAT I'LL BE FAITHFUL TO THE DEMANDS FOR TRUTH AND HONESTY AS ESTABLISHED BY MY PROFESSION, THAT ESTABLISHED BY PROFESSION AND THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I WILL 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, FAVOR OR DISCRIMINATION, I WILL DEVOTE MY EFFORTS AND SKILLS.
I'LL DEVOTE MY EFFORTS AND SKILLS TO THE HONORABLE PROFESSION
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OF POLICING, TO THE HONORABLE PROFESSION OF POLICING, AND TO THE SERVICE OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND INDIVIDUALS, AND TO THE SERVICE OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND INDIVIDUALS OF THIS COMMUNITY, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, OF THIS COMMUNITY, THE CITY OF AUSTIN.I WILL ASSIST THOSE IN PERIL OR DISTRESS.
I DUNNO, ASSIST THOSE IN PERIL OR DISTRESS, AND IF NECESSARY AND NECESSARY, LAY DOWN MY LIFE.
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 DIVISION STAFF AND THE ENTIRE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT FAMILY, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE AD'S NEWEST POLICE OFFICERS.
THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL OF THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT HAVE MADE THIS JOURNEY POSSIBLE.
THEY COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS CONCLUDES TODAY'S CEREMONY, OFFICER CONTRERAS, AS YOUR LAST OFFICIAL ACT AS CLASS PRESIDENT, WILL YOU PLEASE DISMISS THESE NEW AUSTIN POLICE OFFICERS A THAT'S TRUSTED, RESPECTED BY ALL YOU, OUR COMMUNITY, I CARE.
INTEGRITY CORNER POLICE WORK WITHOUT PUBLIC TRUST LAWS, COURAGE TO MAKE THE RIGHT PROFESSIONAL DECISION ACCOUNTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY, THE DEPARTMENT, YOUR COWORKER, RESPECT OF THE COMMUNITY DEPARTMENT, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, SELF ETHICAL, PROFESSIONAL ACTION AND DECISION MAKING.