SAVANNAH, GA (February 5, 2015) –This morning 17 men and four women were sworn in as new members of the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department.
The Badge Pinning Ceremony took place at SCAD’s Arnold Hall auditorium at 10 a.m.
The new officers completed 11 weeks of state-mandated training at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GBSTC) in Garden City, and seven weeks of Patrol School at the SCMPD Professional Development Center.
Chief of Police, Joseph H. Lumpkin, Sr. addressed the officers at today’s ceremony. “Always remember the people are the police and the police are the people. We have to have the support of our citizens to be effective. Crimes do not typically occur in front of police uniforms, so we need the trust of the citizens and that’s what we are building,” he told them.
The officers who were sworn in today are: Andrew Aarons, Brett Baldwin, William Barnett, Kathleen Basel, Joshua Chatting, Octavius Fears, Justin Floyd, Joshua Flynn, Tanner Hoover, Sean McCulley, Bhagya Nethicumara, Don Nethicumara, Stephanie Ojeda, Michael Petrella, Jacob Powell, Robert Ross, Allison Stahl, Benjamin Valdivieso, Christopher Walker, George Walker, Marvin Williams
“It’s a great feeling and I’m proud to have these men and women on the street. Every day we are getting better at producing a fully staffed police department,” the Chief said. “These young men and women and the men and women we have on police department presently are demonstrating that professional and trust-building spirit.”
The 21 new officers will report to their assigned precincts tomorrow and will spend the next 15 weeks riding with a training officer.
Many family members and friends of the new officers attended the Badge Pinning Ceremony, including several elected officials. Mayor Eddie Deloach, Alderwoman Carol Bell, Alderman Bill Durrence and Alderman Julian Miller attended from the City of Savannah. Commissioners Helen Stone and Tony Center added on behalf of Chatham County. Recorder’s Court Chief Judge Tammy Stokes also attended.
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