Starting Saturday, 19 new law enforcement officers will no longer answer to "recruit"; they will be called "officer."
The new cops were sworn in to service Friday morning at the SFC Leonard B. Francis Armory on St. Thomas, after a 21-week program that started back in August. More than one out of three recruits dropped out along the way, attesting to the rigors of the V.I. Police Training Academy.
“It was a trip to hell and back,” 2009-2010 Class President Ornald Joseph said, describing his first day in the academy. “It was such a trying day that an ambulance came to the scene.”
Joseph made a few good-humored digs at the some of class’s toughest instructors and their favorite phrases.
Cpl. Omodoso A. Muhammad took the drill-sergeant role in training and dispensed the phrases, "Recruit! What the hell do you think this is?" and "Stay in the fight — keep it tight."
Academy Director Vancito Gumbs was known for "You have to know that you know that you know."
Joseph, along with many of the program’s speakers, stressed the importance of family support for law enforcement officers. He told the auditorium, crowded with family, friends and well-wishers, how his mother had come to St. Thomas to help him. While he attended the academy, she arose at 4:30 a.m. every morning to make him Quaker Oats. He asked her to stand and thanked her to a roomful of applause.
Muhammad concurred on the importance of a strong family support system for those who enter law enforcement.
“As a group, we can’t do it alone,” Muhammad said. “If you deal with family, you have support to help you to continue to serve the Almighty and humanity.”
Muhammad said that the class was distinctive in that only one member was former military, so that he had to introduce a paramilitary mindset and the discipline required for building the character needed for law enforcement.
The class also stood out in terms of their humility, their commitment to learning and their disciplined focus on instruction, Muhammad said.
In addition to the graduation, the VIPD honored three of its members with promotions. Claudius Hippolyte was promoted from police officer to sergeant, while Lynod Richardson and Jason Marsh were promoted from police detective to sergeant.
Several class awards were distributed too, including top academic honors to Tiffany Tyson, top firearms awards to Kyle Gabriel and Carol Bachan-Tatum, and highest physical fitness scores to Colvin Georges and Jeaneil Huggins.
“Your mind and body are one,” Sen. Carlton “Ital” Dowe said, recognizing the class’s awardees for physical fitness. He said a police officer’s body has to be fit enough to carry out what his or her mind is directing it to do.
Dowe also urged the new officers to treat the territory’s citizenry with dignity and respect.
Expectations for the new officers are great, with little room for errors, VIPD Commissioner Novelle Francis told the assemblage.
“Use this opportunity to instill hope, safety and a sense of security” in the public, VIPD Commissioner Novelle Francis told the officers.
Gov. John deJongh Jr. encouraged the new graduates to get out and walk amongst the community, and roll down the tinted windows of the squad car.
New graduates serving the Virgin Islands Police Department include: Claudette Buchanan, Akeem Frett, Kyle Gabriel (highest firearms score, men), Colvin Georges (highest physical score, men and exemplary service award), Jeffrey Hodge, Jeaneil Huggins (highest physical score, women), Onii Jackson, Ornald Joseph (class president, exemplary service award), Felipe Pereira, Jr., Dahlia Richardson-Simon, Shani Smith, Carol Bachan-Tatum (highest firearms score, women), Akeem Turnbull, Tiffany Tyson (highest academic score), Davina Van Holton and Kervin Williams.
Two new officers, Isheba James and Omari Lewis, will serve the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, and one, Frederico Perez, will join the V.I. Lottery Department. In addition, the VIPD honored three of its members with promotions.
