Press Release

Ten male and two female officers from the Bell, Gardena, Glendora, Los Angeles Unified School District, and Signal Hill Police Departments graduated from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Training Academy in Whittier during ceremonies held on Thursday, April 10, 2003.

Chief Rodney Lyons, of the Gardena Police Department, delivered the keynote address to the graduates and their guests.

As part of the graduation, a badge-pinning ceremony was conducted, with the new officers receiving their badges from a family member or other loved one. After receiving their graduation certificates, the graduates were officially sworn in as peace officers by Sheriff Lee Baca. He told them, "Each of you will become a leader within your organization as well as within the communities you will serve. The challenge before you is to perform your law enforcement duties with respect for all people and to serve as positive role models to those with whom you come into contact."

In a special segment of the ceremony, Officer Billy McCullah, a resident of Downey, was named the Honor Recruit for Class #332. This award is given to the recruit who achieves the highest numerical average based upon leadership qualities, social relations and personal traits, practical performance, academics, marksmanship, and physical performance throughout the training period. Additionally, Officer Ronald Sagmit, a resident of Garden Grove, was acknowledged for graduating with the highest academic score.

SHB-25A-03

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April 10, 2003

Photos available upon request.