* 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. [00:00:03] MY NAME IS RICHARD EAGLE [Austin 157th Austin Police Academy Graduation Ceremony] AND I'M THE COMMANDER OF THE RECRUITING AND TRAINING DIVISION FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT. I WANNA EXTEND MY THANKS AND GRATITUDE TO ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE THE GRADUATION OF THE 157TH ACADEMY CLASS OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT. IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO CELEBRATE THAT WITH YOU TODAY ON JANUARY 26TH, 2020 6, 57, MEN AND WOMEN CAME TOGETHER FROM A VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS AND COMMUNITIES TO UNDERGO TRAINING REQUIRED TO BECOME AUSTIN POLICE OFFICERS. AFTER 34 WEEKS OF RIGOROUS TRAINING, THE 157 ACADEMY CLASS IS GOING TO GRADUATE 38 OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS. THEY HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TO SUCCEED AND ACHIEVE THIS GOAL. THEY HAVE MET OUR VERY DEMANDING PHYSICAL, ACADEMIC, AND ETHICAL STANDARDS AND THEY WILL NOW HAVE THE HONOR, PRIVILEGE, AND RESPONSIBILITY OF WEARING THE BADGE OF AN AUSTIN POLICE OFFICER. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE STAND AND WELCOME THE GRADUATES OF THE 157TH CADET CLASS. MARK. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE COLORS BY THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT'S HONOR GUARD AND THE SINGING OF OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM BY AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT'S SENIOR POLICE OFFICER TODD GOLD BREATH ALL OH, CAN YOU SEE BY THE TOWNS EARLY LIGHT WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HELD AT THE TWILIGHTS. [00:05:01] LASTLY, WHOSE BROUGHT STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THROW THE FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT PARTS. WE WATCHED WERE SO STREAMING AND THE RAW CATCH RED THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE. OH, THE FREE AND THE OF THE BRIDGE. OH RIGHT. ALL UNIFORM MEMBERS, PLEASE REMOVE YOUR COVER FOR THE INVOCATION, WHICH WILL BE DELIVERED BY A PD CHAPLAIN, MARCO CASTILLA RILEY, TWO UP. GOOD AFTERNOON. LET'S BOW OUR HEADS AND PRAY. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS THANKING YOU FOR THIS SPECIAL MOMENT AND FOR EACH ONE OF THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE WORK TRAINED, SACRIFICE AND PERSEVERE TO ACHIEVE THIS DAY. LORD, AS THEY TRANSITION FROM CADETS INTO OFFICERS, WE ASK THAT YOU GO BEFORE THEM IN EVERY STEP OF THEIR NEW JOURNEY. GIVE THEM WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, DISCERNMENT, AND UNDERSTANDING TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS, ESPECIALLY IN DIFFICULT AND UNEXPECTED SITUATIONS. GIVING COURAGE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, INTEGRITY, TO LIVE WITH HONOR AND COMPASSION TO SERVE EVERY PERSON THEY ENCOUNTER. FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU PROTECT THEM WHEREVER THEY GO. PLACE YOUR HAND OF PROTECTION OVER THEM PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, MENTALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY. PROTECT THEM WHILE THEY ARE ON DUTY AND WHEN THEY RETURN HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES, GIVE THEM STRENGTH WHEN THE JOB BECOMES DIFFICULT. PEACE WHEN THEY FACE STRESSFUL SITUATIONS AND COMFORT WHEN THEY ENCOUNTER THINGS THAT ARE HARD TO BE, TO CARRY. SURROUNDING WITH GOOD PARTNERS, GOOD LEADERSHIP, AND PEOPLE WHO WILL ENCOURAGE AND GUIDE THEM, KEEP THEIR FAMILIES COVERED AS WELL, AND GIVE THEIR LOVED ONES PEACE. KNOWING THAT YOU ARE WATCHING OVER THEM. LORD, MAY THEY NEVER FORGET WHY THEY CHOSE TO SERVE. LETTING BE OFFICERS WHO LIVE WITH HUMILITY, SERVE WITH EXCELLENCE, PROTECT WITH COURAGE, AND TREAT EVERY PERSON WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. WE PLACE THEIR CAREERS, THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR FUTURES, AND THEIR LIVES. IN YOUR HANDS MADE YOUR PRESENCE GO BEFORE THEM, YOUR WISDOM. GUIDE THEM AND YOUR PROTECTION. REMAIN OVER THEM ALL THE DAYS OF THEIR OF THEIR LIVES. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. THANK YOU CHAPLAIN CASTILLA. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE COMMISSIONING AND GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR THE 157TH CADET CLASS IS UNDERWAY. PLEASE BE SEATED. READY, CHIEF, MY JOB, BROOKE, ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CHIEF OF POLICE, LISA DAVIS, I THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR JOINING US TODAY FOR 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. [00:10:01] AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE DISTINGUISHED GUEST ON STAGE AND IN THE AUDIENCE WHO HAVE JOINED US FOR OUR COMMISSIONING CEREMONY. PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL THE FINAL INTRODUCTION. TO MY LEFT, WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MARK UCHIN, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER PAIGE ELLIS, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, JOHN FORTUNE, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE, LEE ROGERS, ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE. ANGIE JONES, ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE. MIKE CHANCELLOR, ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE, MIKE, EARLY ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE, JJ SCHMIDT AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR JANET THOMAS. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMAND STAFF FOR JOINING US THIS AFTERNOON. THERE IS ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT GROUP OF PEOPLE I ALSO WISH TO RECOGNIZE AT THIS TIME, AND THAT IS THE STAFF OF THE RECRUITING AND TRAINING DIVISION. IT IS THROUGH THEIR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS. THESE OFFICERS ARE ABOUT TO HIT THE STREETS IN HERE IN AUSTIN. THE PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT THAT THEY HAVE GIVEN BEEN GIVEN BY OUR RECRUITING AND TRAINING STAFF IS THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY. THEY HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TO TRANSFORM THESE ORDINARY CITIZENS INTO AUSTIN POLICE OFFICERS. WOULD ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE RECRUITING AND TRAINING DIVISION PLEASE STAND UP TO BE RECOGNIZED? THANK YOU GUYS. THIS IS A CELEBRATION OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF 38 CADETS SEATED IN FRONT OF ME, AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE THIS DAY, DAY POSSIBLE. THESE CADETS SET THEIR GOALS AND SUCCEEDED IN COMPLETING THE MOST PHYSICALLY INTENSE AND ACADEMICALLY CHALLENGING POLICE TRAINING REGIMEN IN THE NATION TO THE FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE PROVIDED CARE, SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THEM FOR THE DURATION OF THE ACADEMY WHERE YOU'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR ATTENDANCE HERE TODAY. THEY COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT YOU GUYS. THEY WILL CONTINUE TO NEED YOUR SUPPORT. THIS AFTERNOON, WE'LL HONOR AUSTIN'S NEWEST POLICE OFFICERS, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AND CURRENTLY SERVED AS PEACE OFFICERS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND AROUND THE COUNTRY. WOULD ALL OF THE ACTIVE AND RETIRED PEACE OFFICERS PLEASE STAND. EACH OF YOU HAS EARNED OUR THANKS AND RESPECT FOR YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE. FINALLY, THIS AFTERNOON, I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO PAY RESPECT TO THE OFFICERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, STATE AND NATION WHO ARE GIVEN THEIR FINAL MEASURE AND MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE BY GIVING UP THEIR LIVES IN THE LINE OF DUTY. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN HONOR OF THEM. THANK YOU. EACH CADET CLASS ELECTS ITS OWN CLASS OFFICERS. SELECTIONIST 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'S OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE. AS SUCH, THIS SELECTION SYMBOLIZES THE CONFIDENCE THE CLASS HAS BESTOWED UPON THIS INDIVIDUAL. THE 157TH CADET CLASS HAS CHOSEN CADET CALEB MILLER AS THEIR PRESIDENT CADET MILLER. PLEASE COME FORWARD. GOOD AFTERNOON LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. BEFORE I BEGIN, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND HERE AND ADDRESS YOU ALL. FIRST, UH, THANK YOU TO MY CLASSMATES FOR AFFORDING ME THE POSITION THAT ENABLED ME TO BE UP HERE AND TO THE TRAINING ACADEMY STAFF FOR THE SUPPORT, MOTIVATION AND INSTRUCTION THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF OUR TRAINING. I'M TRULY HUMBLED. THANK YOU. IN MY PREPARATION FOR THIS AFTERNOON, I SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME REFLECTING ON THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS. A CLEAR DETERMINATION THAT I MADE WAS THAT WE AS A CLASS HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT TOGETHER. I RECALLED MANY MEMORIES THROUGHOUT OUR ACADEMY AND AN EFFORT TO FIND WHAT I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT AND IT BROUGHT ME TO A TIME EARLY ON IN THE FORMING OF OUR CLASS, WHEN I FIRST SPOKE TO THE ONE 57TH IN AN ELECTED LEADERSHIP CAPACITY THAT DAY, I PRESENTED TO THEM A PERSONAL DEFINITION OF LEADERSHIP AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO REVISIT THAT BRIEFLY HERE TONIGHT. THE DEFINITION THAT I PRESENTED WAS THIS, THAT LEADERSHIP IS THE ART OF INSPIRING THE SPIRIT AND THE ACT OF FOLLOWERSHIP. [00:15:01] I WAS GIVEN THIS DEFINITION BY A VERY INFLUENTIAL LEADER THAT I HAD WHILE I WAS IN THE MARINE CORPS AND IT STUCK WITH ME AND CHANGED MY PERSPECTIVE ON LEADERSHIP FOR A FEW REASONS, MAINLY DUE TO THE LACK OF, UH, RANK, POSITION, OR TITLE THAT IS INCLUDED IN THAT DEFINITION. THE PROPOSAL THAT LEADERSHIP IS AN ART INFERS THAT ANYONE HAS THE ABILITY TO EMPLOY IT. AND JUST LIKE ANY OTHER ART, SOME INDIVIDUALS MAY BE NATURALLY GIFTED IN ITS USE, BUT ANYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO IMPROVE THEIR ABILITY IF ONLY THEY TAKE TIME DEDICATED TO ITS PRACTICE. IT IS MY HOPE FOR THE 1 57 TO RECOGNIZE THE LEADERSHIP ROLE THAT WE WILL ALL BE STEPPING INTO AS WE ARE DISTRIBUTED TO OUR SHIFTS, SECTORS AND COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, AND THAT THROUGH OUR CONDUCT, ACTIONS AND WORDS, WE POSITIVELY INSPIRE OTHERS AND KEEPING TO THAT DEFINITION, ENCOURAGE ALL THOSE AROUND US TO DO THE SAME TO MY CLASS. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SUCCESS THAT IS COMPLETING THE ACADEMY, BUT RECOGNIZE THAT THIS TRULY IS THE BEGINNING. BE PREPARED TO LEARN, BE HUMBLE, PRACTICE THE ART OF LEADERSHIP, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS NEXT PHASE OF TRAINING WITH YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU CADET MILLER. OUR AWARDS THIS AFTERNOON WILL BE PRESENTED BY ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE, ANGIE JONES. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. 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 CLASS 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 HINKLE WAS THE CLASS PRESIDENT OF THE 23RD CADET CLASS COMMISSIONED ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 1960. HE SPENT HIS ENTIRE CAREER AS HIS 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 HENKEL WAS THE MOST DECORATED POLICE OFFICER IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, RECEIVING OVER 200 AWARDS AND ACCOMMODATIONS. IN 1993. HE WAS ONE OF 18 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, TO BE SE 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 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 A SYMBOL OF WHAT GREAT OFFICERS SHOULD BE. COURAGEOUS AND KIND. HONORABLE AND HUMBLE, PRINCIPLED WITH A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF FRAILTY OF THE HUMAN CONDITION. IT'S MY HONOR TO ANNOUNCE THE HUNDRED AND 57TH CADET CLASS ERNIE HENKEL HUMANITARIAN WARD RECIPIENT AS JAMES WILMORE CREM. 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 AS THE CADET WHO BEST EXEMPLIFIES THE COMBINATION OF THE SKILLS AND QUALITIES THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO THE TRAINING PROGRAM. THESE INCLUDE LEADERSHIP AND INTEGRITY, PROFESSIONALISM AND INITIATIVE, HARD WORK AND DEPENDABILITY AND OVERALL PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE. AND I THINK WE HEARD A LITTLE BIT FROM THIS CADET ABOUT LEADERSHIP. THE CADET WHO BEST REPRESENTS THESE SKILLS FROM THE 1 57 CADET CLASS IS CADET CALEB MILLER. THANK YOU CHIEF JONES. IT IS NOW MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT. LEE ROGERS, CHIEF ROGERS BEGAN [00:20:01] HIS LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER IN 1996, WORKING WITH SEVERAL AGENCIES BEFORE PROUDLY JOINING THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT IN 2001. AS PART OF THE 104TH CADET CLASS, HE WORKED PATROL AND STREET RESPONSE IN CHARLIE SECTOR, PROMOTED TO DETECTIVE AND WORKED MISSING PERSONS, AND LATER THE GANG UNIT AND SAFE STREETS TASK FORCE. AS A SERGEANT, HE SUPERVISED THE HENRY DRS. DAVID PATROL WORKED IN FINANCIAL CRIMES AND INTERNAL AFFAIRS AS LIEUTENANT. HE WORKED THE NIGHT SHIFT IN THE REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER AND CHARLIE PATROL BEFORE MOVING TO THE TRAINING ACADEMY AS THE LEARN SKILLS UNIT LIEUTENANT AS A COMMANDER, CHIEF ROGERS HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING IN EDWARD SECTOR PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND THE INTELLIGENCE DIVISION. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE WELCOME AUSTIN EXECUTIVE POLICE CHIEF LEE ROGERS. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M ASSISTANT CHIEF LEE ROGERS ON BEHALF OF POLICE CHIEF LISA DAVIS, MYSELF, THE ENTIRE A PD EXECUTIVE AND COMMAND TEAMS. WE WANT TO EXTEND OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF YOU AND WELCOME YOU TO THE AUSTIN POLICE FAMILY. YOU HAVE SPENT THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS GOING THROUGH AN INTENSE ACADEMY THAT CHALLENGED YOU, PUSHED YOU, AND PREPARED YOU FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF YOUR JOURNEY. BUT YOUR LEARNING DOESN'T END HERE. IT'S JUST BEGINNING. CONTINUE TO LEAN ON EACH OTHER. YOU HAVE BUILT RELATIONSHIPS DURING YOUR TIME AT THE ACADEMY THAT WILL BECOME AN IMPORTANT SOURCE FOR YOUR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREERS. LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER, CELEBRATE EACH OTHER'S SUCCESSES AND BE THERE FOR EACH OTHER WHEN THE JOB GETS DIFFICULT. NEVER STOP LEARNING EVERY CALL, EVERY INTERACTION AND EVERY EXPERIENCE WILL TEACH YOU SOMETHING NEW. KEEP AN OPEN MIND. STAY CURIOUS, ASK QUESTIONS AND BE WILLING TO LEARN FROM THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU. DON'T JUST SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE FROM OUR ORGANIZATION, BUT EXPAND YOUR FRIENDSHIP BOUNDARIES TO OTHER PEOPLE IN ORDER TO BE THE BEST. WE ALL HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THERE IS ALWAYS MORE TO LEARN. BE ENGAGED AND PRESENT IN YOUR WORK, OUR COMMUNITY, AND WITH THE PEOPLE THAT YOU WILL BE SERVING. TAKE THE TIME TO LISTEN, UNDERSTAND AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS. THOSE CONNECTIONS MATTER AND THEY ARE IMPORTANT. THEY'RE AN IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT MAKES PUBLIC SAFETY A TEAM EFFORT. ALWAYS BE HONEST. YOUR INTEGRITY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU WILL CARRY WITH YOU EVERY DAY. PROTECT IT AND LET IT GUIDE DECISIONS YOU MAKE EVEN WHEN YOU THINK NO ONE IS WATCHING, BECAUSE I PROMISE YOU SOMEONE IS ALWAYS WATCHING. TAKE PRIDE IN THE BADGE YOU ARE WEARING, THE FAMILY YOU ARE NOW A PART OF, AND OUR COMMUNITY YOU WILL BE SERVING. THE BADGE YOU'LL BE WEARING REPRESENTS TRUST, RESPONSIBILITY, AND A COMMITMENT TO SOMETHING BIGGER THAN YOURSELF. WEAR IT WITH PRIDE, BUT ALSO WITH HUMILITY AND A VERY CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT MEANS TO SERVE. YOU HAVE WORKED HARD TO GET TO THIS DAY NOW TAKE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE LEARNED AND APPLY IT CADET CLASS 1, 5 7. GET OUT THERE, MAKE A DIFFERENCE. MAKE US ALL PROUD AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, BE SAFE AND HAVE FUN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHIEF ROGERS. AND NOW WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A VERY SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM AUSTIN POLICE CHIEF LISA DAVIS, FOLLOWED BY A VIDEO HIGHLIGHTING OUR CADETS AND THEIR JOURNEY. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LISA DAVIS AND I'M YOUR CHIEF OF POLICE FOR AUSTIN. WHILE I WISH I COULD BE THERE TODAY, I'M HONORED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A FEW WORDS ON THIS IMPORTANT DAY. FIRST, I WANNA RECOGNIZE THE CADETS GRADUATING TODAY. YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO ANSWER THE CALL TO A VERY SPECIAL CAREER, A CAREER IN POLICING, AND A ROLE THAT IS FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR DEMOCRACY. YOU HAVE A UNIQUE ROLE IN OUR SOCIETY. YOU ARE ENTRUSTED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT VERY FEW PROFESSIONS CARRY THE AUTHORITY TO TAKE AWAY SOMEONE'S LIBERTY. THIS IS AN ENORMOUS RESPONSIBILITY AND IT REQUIRES THE TRUST AND COLLABORATION WITH THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY. I ALSO WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES JOINING US HERE TODAY. YOU HAVE ALL MADE SACRIFICES SO YOUR CADET COULD REACH THIS DAY. I KNOW YOU HAVE SUPPORTED THEM THROUGH THE LONG DAYS, THE CHALLENGES AND THE UNCERTAINTY THAT CAN COME WITH THIS CAREER. AND AS THEY CONTINUE TO GROW IN THEIR CAREER, I CAN PROMISE THEY WILL CONTINUE TO LEAN ON YOU. AND TO OUR ACADEMY TEAM, [00:25:01] YOU HAVE CHALLENGED OUR CADETS, SUPPORTED THEM, AND HELPED THEM REACH THE FINISH LINE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE TO PREPARE THIS CLASS FOR WHAT COMES NEXT. AND NOW TO ALL OUR GRADUATES, MY DEEPEST CONGRATULATIONS. YOU HAVE WORKED HARD TO GET HERE, AND TODAY IS A DAY YOU SHOULD BE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF. BUT REMEMBER THAT THIS IS NOT THE END OF YOUR JOURNEY. IT IS THE BEGINNING. THE BADGE YOU WEAR IS MORE THAN A SYMBOL OF AUTHORITY. IT REPRESENTS TRUST, COURAGE, SACRIFICE, JUSTICE, FAIRNESS, AND COMPASSION. THERE WILL BE DAYS WHEN THIS JOB IS DIFFICULT. WHEN THOSE MOMENTS COME, I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THREE THINGS. FIRST, NEVER FORGET YOUR WHY. THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN YOU FACE CHALLENGES AND THE WEIGHT OF THAT BADGE FILLS HEAVY. AND THOSE MOMENTS REMEMBER WHY YOU CHOSE THIS PATH. SECOND, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY. YOUR WELLBEING MATTERS TO YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND IT MATTERS TO THE COMMUNITY YOU SERVE. YOU CANNOT TAKE CARE OF OTHERS IF YOU'RE NOT TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF. I AM PROUD THAT A PD PROVIDES AN INNOVATIVE WELLNESS PROGRAM. THIRD, HAVE FUN. BE POSITIVE. FIND PEOPLE WHO LIFT YOU UP, CHALLENGE YOU TO BE BETTER, AND REMIND YOU OF WHY YOU CHOSE THIS PROFESSION. DON'T LET NEGATIVITY BECOME YOUR IDENTITY. THIS CAREER WILL MOVE QUICKLY. SO TAKE THE TIME TO ENJOY THE MOMENTS, CELEBRATE THE WINS, AND APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE ALONGSIDE. FINALLY, I WANNA MAKE A 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. YOU HAVE WORKED HARD TO EARN THAT BADGE NOW GO OUT THERE AND WEAR IT WITH PRIDE. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ONE 57TH CADET CLASS. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER. SAY YOUR NAME FIRST. INTRODUCE YOURSELF. UH, YES. I'M KAYLA MILLER, ELIZABETH NEWGEN, JACOB SMITH, ANGELINA RODRIGUEZ, BRANDON BALLOU GONZALEZ, ROBERT ORTIZ. MATTHEW LAC. MARY GARCIA. DAVID YE JAMAL B VINCENT ORTIZ JAMES. LAST NAME IS WILMAR RUM RIDE, DARROW SIMPSON. MARTIN, 9 9 4 7. UH, FIRST NAME, DYLAN ARMANI. LAST NAME IS HENDRICKSON DANGER, HEAL. ANGEL CELO. MARK STRAIN. YOU CHRISTOPHER FAM CADE LONG SANTOS RODRIGUEZ. DEREK BRYCE HUMO. WE LAST NAME RIA. KEVIN CORDO. RICK. LAST NAME FLORES A MOLINA. DIANA EMMA BRAZEL NICHOLSON CHRISTOPHER. LAST NAME IS COCO AZ. AND LAST NAME'S MOORE, DAVID PEREZ. I WOULD HAVE TO SAY MY BIGGEST INSPIRATION TO JOIN LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, COMES FROM MY FATHER. UH, HE'S BEEN IN A PD FOR 18 YEARS. UH, ALWAYS BEEN A GREAT EXAMPLE FOR ME AND HE WAS DEFINITELY THE, UH, DRIVING FACTOR IN ME WANTING TO PURSUE THIS CAREER AS WELL. MY OLDER BROTHER IS A POLICE OFFICER BACK AT HOME. AND JUST SEEING HOW MUCH HE TRULY ENJOYED HIS CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT DEFINITELY WAS A MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR ME TO PUSH ME TO JOIN THE FORCE. I ACTUALLY HAD THE THOUGHT OF BEING A POLICE OFFICER PROBABLY ABOUT A YEAR OR TWO AGO. I WAS A DOG HANDLER AND I LOVED THAT JOB AND NEVER THOUGHT I WAS GONNA LEAVE IT, BUT HERE I AM NOW. I'M A MARINE CORPS VETERAN. UM, I'M VERY ADAMANT ABOUT SERVING AND, UH, BEING A VETERAN. COMING INTO AUSTIN, INTO POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SOMETHING I WANTED TO DO TO FURTHER THAT SERVANT. WHEN I TOLD MY WIFE, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT, I WANT TO DO THIS, THIS IS MY NEXT MOVE. AND SHE WAS JUST LIKE, YOU COULDN'T HAVE PICKED SOMETHING MORE DANGEROUS. I, I HAD A LOT OF FRIENDS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THEY, UH, THEY REALLY GUIDED ME THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND, UH, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY HELPED ME DECIDE THAT THIS IS WHAT I WANTED TO DO. COINCIDENTALLY, MY HUSBAND ACTUALLY WORKS FOR AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL. UH, SO I JUST DECIDED TO APPLY AND IT, IT WAS INTERESTING 'CAUSE AT FIRST HE, HE NEVER REALLY THOUGHT THAT I WAS SERIOUS. I WAS A COP FOR 22 YEARS IN NEW YORK BEFORE, AND I RETIRED IN JANUARY, UM, BEFORE I DECIDED TO DO THIS JOB. AND, UM, I HAD A GREAT TIME. SO HOPING TO CONTINUE DOING LAW ENFORCEMENT IN TEXAS, IN AUSTIN, JUST HELP OTHER PEOPLE. THAT'S, THAT'S THE BIG GIRLFRIEND IS JUST HELP OTHERS. 'CAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I LIVE FOR. AUSTIN'S MY VILLAGE. IT'S MY WAY OF GIVING BACK BECAUSE I DID HAVE A REALLY GOOD CHILDHOOD, GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD COMMUNITY, AND SO THIS IS MY CALLING TO GIVE BACK TO THOSE TO SERVE, PROTECT, AND TRY TO MAKE AUSTIN EVEN BETTER. MY SISTER AND MY BROTHER-IN-LAW ARE ACTUALLY LAW ENFORCEMENT. SO I WOULD SAY THAT MY SISTER WAS A CALLOUS FOR ME, ACTUALLY TRANSITIONING TO WANTING TO BECOME A LAW ENFORCEMENT, EVEN WHEN YOU HAVE TO ARREST SOMEBODY, I THINK YOU STILL TREAT 'EM WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. UM, 'CAUSE THEY MAY NOT HAVE IT ANYWHERE ELSE. SO IF YOU SHOW 'EM THAT IT CAN LEAD THEM DOWN A PATH THAT MAYBE HELPS THEM GET INTO RECOVERY. IF I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN, IN AT LEAST ONE PERSON EVERY DAY, THEN THAT'S MY GOAL. A CRUISER PULLED INTO THE, UH, DRIVEWAY OF THE GYM AND I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND IT HAD A , A YELLOW, A PD HIRING CIRCLE. AND AFTER I SAW THAT, I KNEW I WANTED TO CHALLENGE MYSELF, ALWAYS WANTED TO DO SOMETHING TO, UM, [00:30:02] YOU KNOW, SERVE MY COMMUNITY, FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO HAVE KNOWN ME FOR YEARS, WHO HAVE KNOWN THAT THIS WAS THE ULTIMATE GOAL. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN WHERE I WANTED TO BE. THE REASON I'M OUT IN AUSTIN IS MY GIRLFRIEND IS OUT HERE, SO SHE PERSUADED ME TO CHECK OUT A PD AND I LOVE THE PEOPLE, SO I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S MORE COM COMMUNITY ORIENTED, UH, PARTAKING LIKE COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES OR HELPING PEOPLE IN NEED. UM, AND I WANTED TO DO IT MORE AT HOME. UH, SO I DECIDED THAT POLICING WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT I'D BE INTERESTED IN. WELL, MY DAD'S A POLICE OFFICER, SO I'VE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED, HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE. AND I WANT TO HELP PEOPLE WHEN I KNOW THIS PROFESSION WILL PUT ME IN A GREATER POSITION TO DO SO. I WAS ALREADY WORKING AS A PARAMEDIC ON AN AMBULANCE, AND I JUST FELT LIKE THERE WAS MORE THAT I COULD BE DOING AND MORE THAT I WANTED TO BE DOING. SO MADE THE DECISION TO MOVE OVER TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. IT WAS ALWAYS IN THE BACK OF MY MIND GROWING UP. UM, I WOULD SAY KIND OF WHAT SET IT IN STONE WAS MY, UH, STEP-GRANDFATHER. I WILL BE THE FIRST ONE IN IN MY FAMILY HOPEFULLY. SO EVERYTHING GOES WELL. UM, I WILL BE THE FIRST ONE IN MY FAMILY AND, UM, MY PARENTS ARE REALLY PROUD OF THAT. EVERYONE THAT I'VE TALKED TO WHO I'M FRIENDS WITH THAT'S IN LAW ENFORCEMENT TALKS ABOUT HOW AUSTIN POLICE OFFICERS ARE ALWAYS, THEY'RE ALWAYS AHEAD OF EVERYONE ELSE WHEN THEY GO TO JOINT TRAININGS AND ALL OF THAT. I THREW ALL MY EGGS IN THE BASKET. I LOVE AUSTIN. ANYWAYS, I WAS UP HERE LIKE TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK. UM, SO I JUST MADE, I JUST LIKE, ALL RIGHT, WELL, THEY ACCEPTED IT. I MADE THE MOVE UP HERE OUTTA THE ARMY AND JUST STARTED THE ACADEMY. AND HAVING LOOKED BACK, I ALWAYS GOT EXCITED WHENEVER I SAW THE, THE RED AND BLUE LIGHTS AND THAT KIND OF JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, GREW ON ME WHEN I GOT OLDER. YOU HEAR A LOT OF LIKE, DON'T TALK, DON'T TALK TO THE POLICE, DON'T CALL THE POLICE. THEY JUST MAKE THINGS WORSE. AND MY EXPERIENCE WITH THAT WAS LIKE THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE. JUST FELT LIKE MY JOB DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A PURPOSE. IT WAS MOSTLY TRANSACTIONAL. JUST, HEY, YOU BUY THIS CAR, THAT'S IT. THERE WAS NO LIKE MEANING TO IT AT ALL. AND I FEEL LIKE THIS JOB, I WOULD GET THAT MEANING SINCE LIKE MIDDLE SCHOOL, I KNEW I WANTED TO BE LIKE IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PATH. I JUST DIDN'T FULLY KNOW WHAT EXACTLY I WANTED TO DO. BUT I ALWAYS LOVED HELPING PEOPLE. I ALWAYS LOVED, UM, HELPING THE COMMUNITY. SO AUSTIN WAS LIKE KIND OF RESEARCHING IT AND I WAS LIKE, I REALLY LIKE THIS ONE. LIKE, I LIKE IT ENOUGH, LEMME GO VISIT. SO I VISITED AND I JUST LOVED IT. I LOVED THE GREENERY, BUT ALSO LIKED THAT IT HAD SKYLINE. IT WAS SOMETHING I'M NOT USED TO, SO I WAS LIKE, YEAH, THIS IS, THIS IS GREAT. AND THEN I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED. I, I'D ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT ABOUT THE TIME. I WAS LIKE 15, 16. AND EVENTUALLY I DECIDED TO MAKE JUMP TO AUSTIN AND, AND KIND OF PURSUE IT. SO YEAH, I STARTED LOOKING INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND I WANTED TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY. SO I CAME BACK TO AUSTIN, A PD. I WAS WORKING IN THE MENTAL HEALTH FIELD FOR A WHILE AND I REALIZED, REALIZED I KIND OF WANTED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BUT ALSO WAS IN MIND WITH WHAT I'VE ALREADY EXPERIENCED IN LIFE. I LIKE MENTAL HEALTH STUFF. AND I ENDED UP APPLYING FOR THE FOSSIL ABUSE DEPARTMENT AND EIGHT MONTHS IN, I'M RIGHT HERE. I WANTED TO TRY A, UH, BIGGER CITY. UM, I USED TO WORK FOR MISS MUNICIPALITY, SO I WANTED THE CHALLENGE. THIS IS MY PASSION. THIS IS WHERE I'M SUPPOSED TO BE. IT'S LIKE, UH, DIFFERENT THINGS JUST START GRAVITATING TO ME, RIGHT? HELPING PEOPLE, UH, JUST LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, BE THE ONE THAT HELPS THEM, HELPS THOSE AROUND THEM, HELPS MY COMMUNITY OUT. UH, AND THAT'S REALLY THE REASON I CHOSE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT TOWARD THE END OF MY MILITARY STINT, YOU KNOW, UH, I KNEW I STILL WANTED TO SERVE, STILL HAVE THE DRIVE TO WANT TO REALLY HELP OUT. IT JUST LOOKED LIKE A LOT OF FUN. I WOULD WANT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT EVERY DAY. UM, AND BEING ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE WAS SOMETHING I ALWAYS ENJOYED. I AM GLAD THAT I GOT PUSHED IN THIS DIRECTION BECAUSE I THINK IT'LL BE A LOT MORE FULFILLING TO LIVE THIS TYPE OF LIFESTYLE. AND I PROMISE I'LL DO IT SAFELY. JUST THANK YOU FOR THE WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT, BECAUSE TO YOU, YOU WERE JUST SAYING WORDS, BUT TO ME, LIKE I FELT THE SUPPORT. SO THANK YOU. IT ALL STARTS WITH MY PARENTS, UM, JUST BASED ON THE FACT OF HOW I GREW UP, UM, BASED OFF THE FACT OF, YOU KNOW, HOW, UH, THEY INSTILLED THAT WORKING, WORKING ETHIC. IT WOULD BE MY WIFE, WHICH I MET AFTER OF COURSE. UM, BUT SHE HAS ALSO BEEN SUCH A BIG PART OF ME BEING ABLE TO BE WHILE I'M HERE. I DEFINITELY DO HAVE A GREAT SUPPORT SYSTEM, EVEN BACK HOME IN DETROIT AND FOR MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY THAT'S HERE WITH ME. SO THAT'S BEEN AWESOME TO HAVE THROUGHOUT THIS, YOU KNOW, JUST THE CONVERSATIONS AND ENCOURAGEMENT, UH, KNOWING AT LEAST THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE BEYOND MYSELF I CAN RELY ON. UM, IF I'M HAVING A BAD DAY, IF I JUST NEED TO HEAR WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT, THERE IS SOMEONE BEYOND MY OWN THOUGHTS, UH, FAMILY, MOM, SISTER, FRIEND, THEY'RE THERE NOW. I WOULD TELL MYSELF, DAD, NOW YOU'RE READY. LIKE YOU DID IT. YOU ARE READY. YOU DESERVE IT. YOU EARNED IT. AND WE ARE NOT DONE. HONESTLY, I WOULD NOT BE WHERE I AM WITHOUT THEM. UM, THEY'VE BEEN THAT OTHER BEAM OF SUPPORT THAT I JUST THOUGHT WASN'T [00:35:01] THERE AND LIKE, COME TO REALIZATION THAT THEY WERE LIKE ONE OF THE STRONGEST BEINGS THAT I HAD TO MAKE IT THROUGH THIS. UM, I MEAN, JUST MY GIRLFRIEND, LIKE, I LOVE YOU. THANK YOU FOR STAYING WITH ME THROUGHOUT THIS SCAB EXPERIENCE. SO THEIR SUPPORT ALSO OBVIOUSLY HELPS, BUT I DO THINK A LOT OF IT IS FROM MYSELF PUSHING MYSELF. BUT THEY ARE A GREAT SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR ME. I HOPE TO HAVE A FAMILY ONE DAY AND I JUST LIKE, I HOPE TO BE SOMEONE THAT THEY CAN KIND OF LOOK UP TO, UM, ONE DAY AS SOMEONE TO EMULATE. IT WAS A LONG PROCESS, BUT I DID IT. JUST WANNA MAKE THEM PROUD. SO I'D SAY IT'S MY SISTER JUST TRYING TO BE LIKE A GOOD ROLE MODEL. LIKE TO HER, SHE COULD DO WHATEVER SHE WANTS TO AND SHE PUTS HER MIND TO IT. YEAH, I JUST WANNA SAY, UM, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, BEING THERE AND SUPPORTING ME, YOU KNOW, THROUGH TOUGH TIMES AND, YOU KNOW, I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT. JUST KNOWING THAT LIKE MY WHY IS BIGGER THAN JUST ME, IT'S FOR MY LITTLE GIRLS. UM, THAT ALWAYS KEEPS ME PUSHING. AH, JUST THANKS FOR BEING THERE AND THANKS FOR ALL THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE GIVEN ME. I MEAN, I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITH, WITHOUT ALL THE KIND WORDS AND SUPPORT. I WOULD DEFINITELY TELL 'EM. THANK YOU. UH, MY PARENTS HAVE DONE, UM, QUITE A LOT FOR ME GROWING UP. UM, AS WELL AS LIKE A BUNCH OF MY FRIENDS THAT ARE GONNA BE THERE FROM THE ARMY. YOU KNOW, LIKE, UM, I HAVEN'T FORGOT ABOUT ANYTHING OR, OR ANYONE THAT, THAT'S HELPED ME GET TO THIS POINT. THANK YOU FOR BEING MY PARENTS BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S NOT BEEN, IT'S NOT BEEN AN EASY, UH, JOURNEY FOR ME. AND, AND, UH, ALSO FOR THEM AS WELL, JUST A TEAM EFFORT. STILL FAMILY, STILL LOVE EACH OTHER, EVEN IF WE'RE THERE OR NOT, YOU KNOW, STILL HERE TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, THERE IS NO WAY THAT I WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THIS POINT WITHOUT THEIR LOVE AND SUPPORT. IT HAS MEANT EVERYTHING TO ME TO KNOW THAT NO MATTER HOW HARD IT'S BEEN, HOW MUCH I HAVE DOUBTED MYSELF THAT I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO RELY ON THEM. AND THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK I WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IT WITHOUT THEM. HOW WOULD I CALL THEM? OR, YOU KNOW, OFFERING ME ADVICE IF I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING. THEY'RE JUST LISTENING TO VENT SOMETIMES. UM, NOT, NOT EVERYONE'S LIKE THAT. SO I'M GLAD THAT I, MY MY PARENTS ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF ME FOR SURE, AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT THEY'RE AS SUPPORTIVE. SHOUT OUT TO MY WIFE AND KIDS. THEY, THEY PUSH ME THROUGH IT. SO ALL LOVE AND THANKS TO THEM, I LOVE THEM. THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT. UM, AND I'LL BE, I'LL BE SAFE OUT THERE. DO MY, DO WHAT I HAVE TO DO TO, UH, MAKE SURE I MAKE IT HOME EVERY NIGHT AND PROTECT THE PEOPLE. DO THE BEST I CAN, AND THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT AND I LOVE HIM. UH, SO MY FUTURE DAUGHTER THAT'S GONNA BE BORN IN EITHER DECEMBER OR JANUARY, UH, DADDY DID IT. , SO THERE'S THAT. YEAH. YEAH, MY WIFE'S DONE A GREAT JOB. YOU CAN DEFINITELY, NO, SERIOUSLY, SHE'S DONE A FANTASTIC JOB. I LOVE YOU. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR ME. I WOULD NOT BE STANDING HERE RIGHT NOW IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU. LIKE THIS IS, THIS DREAM WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOU. MY MOM, SHE, SHE GAVE UP A LOT FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. SHE'S HELPED ME SO MUCH ALONG THE WAY. LIKE SHE, YOU KNOW, SHE'S PRETTY MUCH GIVEN ME EVERYTHING THAT I'VE NEEDED MY ENTIRE LIFE. AND, YOU KNOW, I, I OWED ALL TO HER. MY GIRLFRIEND'S BEEN A BIG SUPPORT OF ME, UM, DOING THIS. AND I HAVE A TWIN BROTHER HERE. UM, HE'S IN THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL. SO HE HAS BEEN SUPPORTING ME AS WELL. MY BOYS WHO I WANNA MAKE THEM PROUD. I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT THEIR MOM CAN DO ANYTHING AND THEY CAN PROTECT THEM AND CREATE A BEAUTIFUL LIFE FOR THEM AS WELL. 'CAUSE THEY ALSO LIVE IN THIS CITY AND THEY ENJOY IT. AND I WANT TO MAKE AUSTIN SAFER, NOT ONLY FOR THEM, BUT THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY GREW UP IN. THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING THAT. LIKE, THIS IS MY CHOICE, AND LIKE, THIS IS WHAT I DECIDED TO DO. I UNDERSTAND IT'S, IT, IT, THEY'RE NERVOUS AND THEY'RE SCARED FOR SURE, AND I, I UNDERSTAND IT, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY NEED TO BE THAT. I'M REALLY THANKFUL FOR THEM, UH, TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUPPORT ME AND PUSH ME THROUGH, UM, DID THIS LONG, THESE LONG, LIKE EIGHT MONTHS FOR SURE. UM, MAKING SURE THAT I DIDN'T GIVE UP AND JUST, UH, CONTINUING TO PURSUE MY DREAM AND THAT I WOULD BE REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF IT. I THINK IT'S JUST FULL CIRCLE. LIKE EVERYTHING I'VE DONE, I'VE TRIED TO MAKE MY PARENTS PROUD, ESPECIALLY MY DAD. AND I THINK IT'S JUST GONNA BE ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT LIKE STICKING THROUGH AND, UH, ACTUALLY COMPLETING THIS AND BEING ABLE TO, FOR HIM TO BE THE ONE THAT PINS ME. IT IS A HUGE MOMENT OF PRIDE IN MY LIFE. I'M VERY EXCITED FOR THAT MOMENT. CLASS 1, 5, 7, 1 5, 7. CLASS 1, 5, 7, 1, 5, 7, 1, 5, 7, 1 57, 1, 5, 7, 1, 5, 7. CLASS 1, 5, 7. [00:40:04] ALL DONE NOW, CADETS HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARD FOR SO LONG THE PENDING OF THE AUSTIN POLICE BADGE AND THE OATH OF OFFICE MEMBERS OF THE ONE 57TH CADET CLASS. IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS, YOU'LL 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, ALWAYS SEE IT AS A SYMBOL OF THE SACRED TRUST BETWEEN YOU AND THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU SERVE. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE SERGEANT ADRIANA WASHINGTON, WHO WILL BE CALLING THE NAMES OF THE CADETS FOR THEIR BADGE PINNING SERGEANT WASHINGTON. AS I ANNOUNCE THE NAMES FOR THE 1 57 CADET CLASS, EACH CADET AND THE PERSON SELECTED TO ACCOMPANY THEM WILL COME FORWARD ONTO THE STAGE FOR THE BADGE. PENNY, IF THE FAMILY MEMBERS CAN GO AHEAD AND LINE UP WITH YOUR CADET. THANK YOU. OKAY. I PRESENT TO YOU JAMAL DIELLE BCUS, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY ASHLEY BCUS AND ACCOMPANIED BY RETIRED DETECTIVE TARALYN WEBSTER FROM NEW ORLEANS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OFFICER MALCOLM BAUS DILLARD FROM DILLARD PD AND FAMILY, BRANDON BALLOU, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY TIMOTHY BALLOU AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY, CHRISTOPHER COONE, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY ALEXIS COONE AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY. [00:45:14] 1, 2 3. KEVIN CORDERO MARQUEZ, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY NANCY MARQUEZ AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY EMMA ELIZABETH DOWELL, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HEATHER DOW AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY, CONGRATULATIONS, GABE TOBIAS DELONG, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY ANGELA DELONG AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY RICK ASHTON FLOS, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY ROSA LINDA SANTILLAN, AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, MARY CARMEN GARCIA, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY CATHERINE UBA. AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY EDGAR GONZALEZ, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY MARIA GONZALEZ. AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THANK [00:50:10] ANDREW HEALY, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY CAROLINE HEALY AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY ARMANI HENDRICKSON, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY DETECTIVE AJ HENDRICKSON WITH THE SUFFOLK COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY THANK YOU, ARRE LENA, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY MEDI LENA AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY DIANARA MARCETO, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY DANA MARCETO AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY, DYLAN MARTIN, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY CHRISTINA MARTIN AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY, CALEB MILLER, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY SENIOR POLICE OFFICER JOHN MILLER WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY [00:55:22] TERRANCE MOORE, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY BILL HELL AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS ELIZABETH WYNN, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY HUNG VO. AND ACCOMPANIED BY JOSEPH GRIFFIN, RETIRED NEW JERSEY STATE TROOPER AND FAMILY, ELLE ZEL NI NICHOLSON IV, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY LISA FRENCH AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY ROBERT ORTIZ, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY DANIELLE ORTIZ. AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY VINCENT ORTIZ, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY JASMINE BAKER AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY, DAVID PEREZ, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY ARD [01:00:01] ANG, AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY CHRISTOPHER FAM, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY FAYE MATAMOROS AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS ANGELINA RODRIGUEZ, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY AUGUST ALVAREZ. AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY, JEREMY SANTOS RODRIGUEZ, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY JUAN RODRIGUEZ. AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY ANGEL SAUCEDO, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY MARY GARCIA AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY GOOD. MATTHEW LAC, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY OFFICER ANTONIO SANCHEZ JR. WITH THE LOCKHART POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY TANNER SHARKIE, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY DANIELLE SHARKEY. AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS [01:05:46] DARRELL SIMPSON III, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY MAROS HENDERSON, RETIRED SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY, AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY JACOB SMITH, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY ALEXANDRIA YURI AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY MARK STRAIN, JR. WHO WILL BE PINNED BY MARK STRAIN, SENIOR AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, DERRICK TOWN, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY SARAH TOWN AND ACCOMPANIED BY RETIRED LIEUTENANT TR OF THE TRAVIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. LAURA TOWN PETTY OFFICER, FIRST CLASS UNITED STATES NAVY AND RETIRED SENIOR OFFICER. AND THEN TRAVIS COUNTY, SHERIFF'S OFFICER STEVEN TOWN AND FAMILY, ANDREW ELI, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY LORRAINE ELI AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY, DAVID VALLE JR. WHO WILL BE PINNED BY OFFICER MELISSA VALLE WITH THE EL PASO POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY THANK [01:10:32] 1, 2, 3. THANK YOU EV ALTA VACA, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY YET VA AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY, SOLE VIAL WHO WILL BE PINNED BY BROOKE MASON AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THANK YOU. SAMUEL WETZEL, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY RAQUEL SMI S MILOWSKI, AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY, JAMES WILMORE RE, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY SERGEANT MICHAEL WILMORE RERE WITH THE AWESOME POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY BRYCE WIMAR, WHO WILL BE PINNED BY CORPORAL TROY WIMAR WITH THE AWESOME POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY. THANK YOU. [01:16:47] CHIEF ROGERS WOULD NOW ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE READY TWO. RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. AYE. AYE. STATE YOUR NAME. AYE. JAMAL. WHO? JACOB SMITH. DAVID WATSON. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE AND PERFORM THAT I'LL FAITHFULLY, IMPARTIALLY, DISCHARGE AND PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES INCUMBENT UPON ME, ALL THE DUTIES INCUMBENT UPON 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, THE STATE OF TEXAS, LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN. I FURTHER SOLEMNLY SWEAR, I FURTHER SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL BE FAITHFUL TO THE DEMANDS FOR TRUTH AND HONESTY. THAT I'LL BE FAITHFUL TO THE DEMANDS OF TRUTH AND HONESTY, AS ESTABLISHED BY MY PROFESSION, AS ESTABLISHED BY MY 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 OF POLICING, TO THE HONORABLE PROFESSIONAL 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 WILL ASSIST THOSE IN PERIL, DISTRESS, AND IF NECESSARY, AND IF NECESSARY, LAID DOWN MY LIFE, LAID DOWN MY LIFE, RATHER [01:20:01] THAN SWERVE FROM THE PATH OF DUTY, RATHER THAN SWERVE FROM THE PATH OF DUTY. TWO. ON BEHALF OF THE RECRUITING AND TRAINING STAFF AND THE ENTIRE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT FAMILY, I WANNA CONGRATULATE APDS NEWEST POLICE OFFICERS. THANKS AGAIN TO ALL THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT HAVE MADE THEIR JOURNEY AND THIS MOMENT POSSIBLE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS CONCLUDES TODAY'S CEREMONY. REFRESHMENT, SPONSORED BY THE A PD CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION WILL BE SERVED IN THE FOYER. OFFICER MILLER AS YOUR LAST OFFICIAL, ACT AS CLASS PRESIDENT FOR THE 157TH CADET CLASS, WILL YOU PLEASE DISMISS THESE OFFICERS WHO SHOULD? I'M A DEPARTMENT THAT IS TRUSTED RESPECT BY ALL AND COLLABORATE WITH OUR COMMUNITY. MAKE STATE, CITY OF AMERICA, PLEASE SHOULD STATE TO KEEP YOU YOUR HAPPY IN OUR COMMUNITY. SAFE STRATEGIES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. INTEGRITY, THE POLICE WORK WITHOUT PUBLIC TRUST LOSS, COURAGE TO MAKE THE RIGHT PROFESSIONAL DECISIONS ACCOUNTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY, THE AND COWORKER, RESPECT ALL THE COMMUNITY, THE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, SO ETHICAL PROFESSIONAL ACTION DECISION MAKING. THANK YOU ALL. GOOD EVENING AND SAFE TRAVELS. * 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.