Dear Source:
When Police Commissioner James McCall said, "As police officers you are the ambassadors for the entire territory," it brought back fond memories of when I graduated from the Police Academy many years ago in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Fort Lauderdale and St. Thomas have much in common … Tourist destinations with transient populations.
As new recruits we were told that we would probably be the only public official that most visitors (and residents) would ever meet. And, as such we were one of the "first impressions" of our city that almost everyone, whom we encountered, would remember.
Our police chief gave each of us a very important command that graduation day. He said, "When it comes to first impressions, make it a good one!" We all knew that he was very serious!
I am sure that Commissioner McCall was just as serious when he said, "As police officers you are the ambassadors for the entire territory!"
Good luck in your new career and all the best.
Richard Silvano
St. Thomas
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