SHERIFF BACA OFFICIATES AT GRADUATION
OF ACADEMY CLASS #328
Three male and two female officers from the Bell, Culver City, Los Angeles Park Rangers, San Fernando, and San Marino Police Departments, along with 68 male and 19 female Deputy Sheriffs, graduated from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Training Academy in Whittier during ceremonies held on Friday, May 24, 2002.
Furnell Chatman, News Anchor with KNBC-4 News, 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 and deputies 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 tribute by the graduating class, Teri March, widow of Deputy Sheriff David March, was presented with a check in memory of her fallen husband.
Deputy Aron Shintaku, a resident of Torrance, was named the Honor Recruit for Class #328. 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. Also recognized during the ceremony were Christopher Oakley, a resident of Pasadena, and Mariah Phares, a resident of Huntington Beach, who were acknowledged for graduating with the highest academic scores.
SHB-40M-02
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May 24, 2002
Photos available upon request.