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>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO SESSION 78.
(general chatter)
PLEASE, STAND FOR THE METRO HONOR GUARD PRESENTATION OF COLORS
AND THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.
>> PRESENT!
UP!
>> (singing) OH SAY CAN YOU SEE
BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT
WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED
AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING
WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS
THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT
O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED
WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING
AND THE ROCKETS' RED GLARE
THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR
GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT
THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE
O SAY DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE
O'ER THE LAND
OF THE FREE
AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE
(applause)
>> PLEASE, TAKE YOUR SEATS.
I'M LIEUTENANT WAYNE WU, GRAND RAPIDS POLICE DEPARTMENT,
BUT I'M ALSO AN INSTRUCTOR HERE AT GRCC'S POLICE ACADEMY.
ON OCTOBER 13th, 2011,
CITY OF WALKER POLICE OFFICE TREVOR PARKER SLOT
WAS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY,
WHILE ASSISTING AERIAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
IN ATTEMPTING TO APPREHEND TWO ARMED AND EXTREMELY VIOLENT
BANK ROBBERY SUSPECTS...
AT THE REQUEST OF WALKER'S DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY,
CATHERINE GARCIA-LINDSTROM,
THE REGION 6 ALL HAZARDS INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM
AND THE KENT COUNTY METRO HONOR GUARD
ASSUMED THE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PLANNING, ORGANIZING, AND IMPLEMENTING
A FULL HONORS FUNERAL FOR TREVOR AND HIS FAMILY.
IN THE WEEK THAT FOLLOWED, NUMEROUS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
ASSISTED BY PROVIDING PERSONNEL, EQUIPMENT, AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT.
EARLY IN THE PROCESS,
GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE POLICE ACADEMY DIRECTOR, JODI RICHHART,
REACHED OUT TO THE TEAM
AND OFFERED THE ASSISTANCE OF RECRUITS FROM THE 78th SESSION
OF THE GRCC POLICE ACADEMY.
WITH THE NUMBER OF TEAM MEMBERS ACTIVELY SERVING
AS ACADEMY INSTRUCTORS FOR DIRECTOR RICHHART,
WE WERE WELL AWARE AS TO THE TRAINING AND PREPAREDNESS OF THE RECRUITS
AND WE GLADLY ACCEPTED HER OFFER OF ASSISTANCE.
OFFICER SLOT'S FUNERAL SERVICE OCCURRED ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21st, 2011,
AT RESURRECTION LIFE CHURCH IN WYOMING, MICHIGAN.
THE SERVICE OCCURRED SMOOTHLY.
I GAVE THE SLOT FAMILY A GREAT DEAL OF COMFORT AND PRIDE
IN THE SACRIFICE MADE BY TREVOR,
AND SHOWED THEM THE GRATEFULNESS OF A THANKFUL COMMUNITY
WHO MOURNED WITH THEM FOR THEIR LOSS.
WELL OVER 1,500 OFFICERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE, MID-WEST, ATTENDED THE SERVICE.
TOTAL ATTENDANCE WAS ESTIMATED AT APPROXIMATELY 3,000 PEOPLE.
I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT AND READ A LETTER OF APPRECIATION
OFFERED BY THE REGION 6 ALL HAZARDS INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM
TO DIRECTOR RICHHART AND THE RECRUITS OF SESSION 78.
"DEAR DIRECTOR RICHHART, PLEASE ACCEPT OUR SINCEREST GRATITUDE
"FOR THE LOGISTICAL SUPPORT THAT YOU AND YOUR RECRUITS PROVIDED DURING OUR--"
ER, "FOR OUR TEAM IN RENDERING A FULL HONORS FUNERAL
"FOR WALKER POLICE OFFICER TREVOR SLOT.
"YOUR RECRUITS PERFORMED THEIR ASSIGNED DUTIES
"IN A RESPECTFUL AND PROFESSIONAL MANNER.
"WITHOUT THEIR ASSISTANCE,
"WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY STAGE AND LAUNCH
"THE FINAL MOTORCADE IN AN ORDERLY FASHION.
"THEY WILLINGLY ACCEPTED ANY TASK THAT WAS ASKED OF THEM
"AND, TRULY, MADE OUR JOBS EASIER.
"THEIR ACTIONS REFLECTED WELL UPON THEMSELVES, YOU, THE GRCC POLICE ACADEMY,
"AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSION.
"THE TEAM ALSO APPRECIATED THE TRUST YOU EXTENDED TO US
"BY ALLOWING US TO USE THE ACADEMY RADIOS.
"BY HAVING THESE RADIOS, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE A TACTICAL CHANNEL
"FOR THE PARKING AND SITE SECURITY GROUPS,
"WHICH GREATLY ENHANCED OUR OPERATIONS.
"THANK YOU AND PLEASE PASS OUR GRATITUDE TO YOUR RECRUITS.
"SINCERELY, LIEUTENANT PAUL ANGLIM, DEPUTY INCIDENT COMMANDER,
"REGION 6 INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM."
SO, ON BEHALF OF THE REGION 6 INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM
AND THEIR METROPOLITAN HONOR GUARD,
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE RECRUITS AND DIRECTOR RICHHART
FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN A...
VERY DIFFICULT TIME IN OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT LIVES,
AND FOR PRESENTING THEMSELVES IN A TRULY PROFESSIONAL MANNER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
(applause)
TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK,
OFFICERS AROUND THE NATION RESPOND TO CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE FROM VICTIMS
AND ALARMS THAT REQUIRE US TO RESPOND
IN A VERY DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENT.
ALL TOO OFTEN WHILE ATTEMPTING TO HELP THE VICTIMS OF CRIME
OR ARREST ITS PERPETRATORS,
OFFICERS ARE SERIOUSLY INJURED AND KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.
THESE RECRUITS ARE WELL AWARE OF THE RISKS AND SACRIFICE
THAT THEY MAY BE CALLED UPON TO ENDURE.
DURING THEIR TERM AS RECRUITS,
THEY HAVE ASSISTED THE WEST MICHIGAN LAW ENFORCEMENT FAMILY
IN BEARING TWO FALLEN OFFICERS DUE TO LINE OF DUTY VIOLENCE.
YET, THEY REMAIN TO CARRY ON THE TORCH OF PUBLIC SAFETY,
SHOULD ANY OF US FALL.
PLEASE, GIVE YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SCREEN BEHIND ME,
AS THE RECRUITS OF SESSION 78 PRESENT TO YOU
AN OFFERING OF REMEMBRANCE AND GRATITUDE
TO THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US BY GIVING THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE
IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.
(bagpipe playing "Amazing Grace")
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>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
WELCOME TO THE 2011 GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE POLICE ACADEMY GRADUATION.
WHAT AN EXCITING DAY IT IS!
ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENTS AND STAFF, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU--
THE FRIENDS, THE FAMILIES, OF OUR RECRUITS.
WE UNDERSTAND THE SACRIFICE THAT YOU, TOO, HAVE GIVEN DURING THIS JOURNEY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION, YOUR PATIENCE, AND YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT
TO GET THEM TO WHERE THEY ARE TODAY.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND WELCOME THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE STAFF,
THE WONDERFUL INSTRUCTORS THAT WE HAVE ON OUR STAFF,
ALONG WITH FAWN TOBOLIC, GEORGE ZEEFF,
GARY EBELS, AND NIKKI BANKS.
ALSO, I'D LIKE TO THANK
THE ASSOCIATE DEAN, PAULA SULLIVAN, FOR COMING,
MANY MEMBERS OF OUR ADVISORY BOARD,
AND OUR MCOLES REPRESENTATIVES,
MR. HARVEY, MR. REED, AND MR. DEVRIES.
AT THIS TIME, WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU A SHORT VIDEO
THAT THE RECRUITS HAVE PUT TOGETHER
THAT JUST ENTAILS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT THEY HAVE ENDURED
OVER THE LAST YEAR.
WE HOPE YOU LIKE IT.
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(applause)
>> THOSE LAST FEW PICTURES, WE REALIZE, ARE NOT VERY GREAT,
BUT THEY GET EXACTLY WHAT THOSE MEAN.
7:00 A.M. THE FIRST DAY, P.T. IN THE SNOW--
UP A MOUNTAIN, IT FELT LIKE.
YOU PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE VERY GOOD REACTIONS TO THAT.
BUT THEY GET WHAT THOSE PICTURES ARE.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU--
AND WELCOME TO THE STAGE--
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MICHIGAN COMMISSION
ON LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARDS, MR. DAVID HARVEY.
>> THANKS, DIRECTOR.
WHEN SHE ASKED ME TO DO THIS, I DIDN'T REALIZE MY ENTIRE HEAD
WAS GONNA BE BACK HERE... (audience laughing)
SO IT INTIMIDATES ME A LITTLE BIT...
LOOKING DOWN UPON MYSELF--
SO I WOULD HAVE SHAVED A LITTLE CLOSER-- I APOLOGIZE.
JUST KIDDING.
THANK YOU, RECRUITS, AND THANK YOU, FAMILY AND FRIENDS,
FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE TODAY.
THIS IS TRULY A GREAT DAY FOR ME,
AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE I'VE GOT A LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER MYSELF,
IN THE PAST.
IT'S GETTING TO BE A LOT FARTHER IN THE PAST THAN IT USED TO BE.
AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE PAST,
I THINK ABOUT THE DAY THAT I DID THIS VERY THING THAT THE RECRUITS DID--
GRADUATE FROM THE POLICE ACADEMY.
SO, I KNOW THEY FEEL PRIDE.
AND I LOVE TO COME HERE AND LOOK IN THEIR EYES AND SEE THAT PRIDE,
AND SEE THAT FIRE IN THEIR EYES.
LIKE THE SONG IN THE VIDEO-- THAT "EYE OF THE TIGER"--
YOU CAN SEE THAT EYE OF THE TIGER.
THEY'RE READY TO GO... THEY'RE READY TO CHARGE OUT INTO THE WORLD
AND GET THAT FIRST JOB AND GET OUT ON THE STREET.
THE VERY BEST TIME OF MY CAREER-- BEST-- FOR ME WAS MY FIRST EIGHT YEARS.
IT WAS IN A PATROL CAR.
NOT THAT THE REST OF IT WASN'T GOOD.
I ENJOYED ALL THE THINGS THAT I DID IN LAW ENFORCEMENT,
BUT I GO BACK TO MY FIRST EIGHT YEARS IN THE PATROL CAR,
TO WHEN I SAID, "WHY ARE THEY PAYING ME TO HAVE SO MUCH FUN?"
(audience laughing) AND THE DAYS WHEN I WOULD GO
AND RIDE FOR FREE WITH MY PARTNER, MY FRIEND,
BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE IN A PATROL CAR.
YOU TRULY HAVE FOUND YOUR PASSION WHEN YOU CAN SAY,
"WHY ARE YOU PAYING ME TO DO THIS JOB?"
I LOOK BACK TODAY AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST TIMES OF MY ENTIRE CAREER.
BUT YOU'RE GETTING YOUR CERTIFICATES TODAY, RECRUITS...
A LOT DUE TO THE SUPPORT YOU GOT FROM YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
THAT'S NO MINOR THING.
IT'S A TEAM EFFORT TO GET YOU TO WHERE YOU ARE TODAY.
BUT WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING TODAY?
WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING TODAY IS YOU'VE BECOME A LEADER.
AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT WHO GETS THE AWARDS TODAY,
WHO GETS THE "OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE" AWARD,
WHO GETS THE "HIGHEST ACADEMIC," WHO GETS WHATEVER.
I DON'T CARE IF YOU WERE A PLATOON LEADER OR A PLATOON SERGEANT.
I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT.
WHAT I CARE ABOUT IS YOU'VE NOW ENTERED INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT
AND YOU'VE CHOSEN TO BECOME A LEADER IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
I NOW NO LONGER AM AN ACTIVE POLICE OFFICER.
I'M PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND I EXPECT, LIKE ALL OF YOU EXPECT, OF POLICE OFFICERS TO BE THAT LEADER.
AND NOW THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE A POLICE OFFICER,
WHEN THINGS ARE GOING BAD AND SOMEBODY PUSHES THE BUTTON AND 911 IS CALLED,
A POLICE OFFICER SHOWS ON THE SCENE-- REGARDLESS OF THEIR RANK--
WHETHER THEY'RE A PATROL OFFICER OR LIEUTENANT OR CHIEF
OR SHERIFF OR CORRECTIONS-- IT DOESN'T MATTER.
WHATEVER YOUR RANK IS,
YOU'RE EXPECTED TO HANDLE THAT SITUATION AND LEAD.
SO, YOU ARE NOW A LEADER.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE AN EFFECTIVE LEADER?
THERE'S A LOT OF ATTRIBUTES FOR GREAT LEADERS,
AND WE CAN SEE SOME OF THOSE LACK OF ATTRIBUTES IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY.
WE SEE IT ON THE NEWS EVERY DAY, ABOUT THOSE LACK OF THINGS
THAT PEOPLE POSSESSED TO BE LEADERS
AND LEAD PEOPLE DOWN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
BUT TO ME, THE BEST ATTRIBUTE OF A LEADER IS ETHICS...
A GOOD ETHICAL STANDARD.
YOU WERE VETTED WHEN YOU WALKED INTO THIS ACADEMY
TO SEE IF YOU HAD GOOD ETHICAL STANDARDS, AMONGST OTHER THINGS,
INCLUDING YOUR PHYSICAL ABILITIES.
WE ASSUME, WALKING IN THE DOOR, THAT YOU HAVE SOME HIGH ETHICAL STANDARDS.
YOU'VE LEARNED AN AWFUL LOT OF THINGS WHEN YOU CAME TO THIS ACADEMY.
TODAY, YOU KNOW HOW TO SHOOT BETTER THAN YOU EVER DID,
IF YOU'VE NEVER SHOT BEFORE.
YOU KNOW HOW TO DRIVE A CAR BETTER THAN YOU EVER DID BEFORE.
YOU KNOW FIRST AID.
YOU KNOW HOW TO ARREST A SUBJECT.
YOU KNOW LAWS.
YOU KNOW ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT WE TAUGHT YOU.
BUT WHAT WE DIDN'T TEACH YOU-- WE DIDN'T TEACH YOU ETHICS.
HOPEFULLY, WE DIDN'T TEACH YOU ETHICS IN THIS ACADEMY.
YOU BROUGHT THAT TO THE TABLE.
YOU BROUGHT THAT TO THE TABLE BECAUSE OF ALL THESE PEOPLE OUT HERE
WHO RAISED YOU AND BROUGHT YOU UP
AND TAUGHT YOU CERTAIN ETHICAL STANDARDS.
YOU HAVE TO TAKE THOSE ETHICAL STANDARDS INTO YOUR JOB.
I USED A THREE-PRONGED TEST, WHEN I WAS A POLICE OFFICER...
WHEN I WAS MAKING DECISIONS.
IF I COULD ANSWER THIS QUESTION, "IS IT LEGAL?
"IS IT MORAL?
"IS IT ETHICAL?"
THOSE THREE QUESTIONS.
IF A "NO" TO ANY ONE OF THOSE, IT MEANT I WAS DOING THE WRONG THING.
AND GRANTED, YOU'LL HAVE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS IN A SPLIT SECOND.
AND SOMETIMES, YOU WON'T EVEN KNOW YOU'RE ASKING
AND ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS-- THEY'LL JUST COME NATURALLY TO YOU.
'CAUSE POLICE OFFICERS HAVE THIS GREAT LEVEL OF INSTINCT.
WE KNOW WHEN TO TURN LEFT VERSUS TURNING RIGHT.
WE KNOW WHEN SOMETHING DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT
WHEN WE TURN DOWN AN ALLEY AND RUN INTO A CRIME IN PROGRESS.
YOU DEVELOP THOSE SKILLS, YOU DEVELOP THAT INSTINCT.
WE KNOW-- AND YOU'LL KNOW IN YOUR GUT--
AND WHAT I'M TELLING YOU IS TO FOLLOW YOUR GUT.
YOU'LL KNOW IN YOUR GUT WHETHER IT'S RIGHT OR WRONG.
FOLLOW THOSE INSTINCTS AND NEVER LET ANYBODY-- ANYBODY--
CHALLENGE YOUR ETHICAL STANDARDS.
SO, WHAT I'M TELLING YOU HERE TODAY IS, IS OVER TIME,
SKILLS DIMINISH IF YOU DON'T PRACTICE.
YOUR FIREARM SKILLS WILL GET LESS IF YOU DON'T PRACTICE.
YOUR DEFENSIVE TACTIC SKILLS WILL DIMINISH IF YOU DON'T PRACTICE, AND AS YOU AGE.
THINGS WILL DIMINISH.
YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAW WILL DIMINISH
IF YOU DON'T KEEP YOURSELF ABREAST OF THE NEW LAWS.
BUT WHAT SHOULD NOT AND CANNOT DIMINISH IS YOUR PERSONAL ETHICAL STANDARDS.
YOU WILL BE CHALLENGED EVERY SINGLE DAY BY SOMEBODY IN THE PUBLIC,
BY YOUR FELLOW OFFICERS, BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ITSELF...
BECAUSE THE ENDS DO NOT JUSTIFY THE MEANS.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE HIGH ETHICAL STANDARDS.
SO, I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THAT, GRADUATES, AND SAY "CONGRATULATIONS."
I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOU TODAY.
IT EXCITES ME TO SEE YOU ON-- I CAN SAY THIS WITH ALL EARNEST--
AND ANY OTHER RETIRED POLICE OFFICERS OR THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING TO RETIRE--
WOULD SAY THAT WE WOULD GLADLY TRADE PLACES WITH YOU TODAY.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I'D WANNA GO THROUGH THE OC SPRAY AGAIN,
BUT I WOULD GLADLY TRADE PLACES WITH YOU AGAIN TODAY
AND START MY CAREER ALL OVER AGAIN--
I WOULD GIVE ANYTHING TO REDO THOSE EIGHT YEARS IN A POLICE CAR.
SO, CONGRATULATIONS.
GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU, GOD BLESS THE RECRUITS,
AND BE SAFE OUT THERE.
(applause)
>> THANK YOU.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU
OUR SQUAD LEADERS AND ASSISTANT SQUAD LEADERS.
"A" SQUAD LEADERS-- JOSHUA YANCHO, ERICK PORTER,
RYAN SMITH, SCOTT GRAMS, CHRIS GOEHRING--
FROM "B" SQUAD-- STEPHEN DUMOND,
JENNA SAUNDERS, AND TIM WIERENGA.
THESE WERE MY EVERY DAY, "GO TO" RECRUITS, ALONG WITH THE INSTRUCTORS.
THESE WERE OUR RIGHT HAND.
THEY TOOK CARE OF THE DAILY RUNNING OF THE SQUADS.
THEY DID UNIFORM INSPECTIONS, GAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS,
ORGANIZED VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, GAVE OUT GIGS TO FELLOW RECRUITS,
AND MADE DAILY CONTACT WITH ME.
THEY ALSO HAD TO ENDURE ME WHEN SOMETHING DIDN'T GO RIGHT.
THEY DIDN'T ALWAYS REALLY WANNA HEAR FROM ME THEN,
AND I'M SURE THAT WHEN THEY SAW MY PHONE NUMBER
COME ACROSS THEIR CELL PHONE,
THERE WERE TIMES THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO ANSWER IT.
THEY WOULD ALWAYS SAY, WHEN I CALLED THE CLASSROOM, "OH NO,
"WHAT DOES THE DIRECTOR WANT?" (audience laughing)
"WHO'S IN TROUBLE NOW?"
I WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU.
YOU HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND
TO ASSIST ME AND YOUR SQUADS THIS YEAR.
I HOPE THAT THIS EXPERIENCE WILL ASSIST YOU
IN GOING ON TO BE GREAT LEADERS IN YOUR CAREERS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
(applause)
>> FIRST OF ALL,
I WANNA CONGRATULATE RECRUITS FROM BOTH SQUADS
FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
WE HAVE ALL PUT FORTH A TREMENDOUS EFFORT TO REACH THIS MOMENT,
AND, NOW THAT IT IS HERE, ITS ARRIVAL SEEMS BITTERSWEET.
IN WRITING SOME OF THE EARLIER DRAFTS,
I FOUND IT EASY TO CONCENTRATE ON THE END--
THAT THERE WOULD BE NO MORE WAKING UP AT 0500 HOURS FOR CLASS,
NO MORE EARLY MORNING WINTER SPRINTS UP A SNOW-COVERED HILL,
AND NO MORE DAILY INTERACTION WITH THE FRIENDS
THAT HAVE BECOME LIKE A SECOND FAMILY.
HOWEVER, I SOON CAME TO THE REALIZATION THAT THIS DAY IS NOT MARKING IT.
IT MARKS THE BEGINNING OF A CHANGE.
WE NO LONGER HAVE THE DAILY BENEFIT OF THE TRAINING ENVIRONMENT,
FORCING OURSELVES TO BETTER BOTH OUR KNOWLEDGE AND OUR TACTICS.
WE NO LONGER HAVE THE BENEFIT OF TRAINING DAILY WITH OUR FRIENDS
OR THE DAILY SCRUTINY FROM OUR INSTRUCTORS,
PUSHING US TO BETTER OURSELVES, GUIDING US IN OUR TACTICS,
SO THAT WE MAY BE KEPT SAFE WHEN WE GET OUT ON THE ROAD.
AS ONE OF OUR INSTRUCTORS ONCE TOLD US, "YOU'LL NEVER BE AS SHARP
"AS YOU ARE UPON FIRST EXITING THE ACADEMY."
BUT WE CAN CHANGE THAT.
NOW THAT OUR DAILY SCHEDULES HAVE CHANGED,
WE MUST TAKE STEPS TO ENSURE THE GOOD HABITS THAT WE HAVE FORMED
THROUGHOUT THIS ACADEMY DO NOT.
I IMPLORE EACH OF YOU
TO TAKE AN EXTRA MINUTE AFTER ANY CALL YOU MAY GO ON,
BREAK IT DOWN MENTALLY,
AND THINK ABOUT HOW YOU COULD HAVE HANDLED IT BETTER.
LOOK FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING
AND APPROACH IT WITH AN OPEN AND ENGAGED MIND.
AND MOST OF ALL, DON'T KEEP WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED TO YOURSELF.
SHARE IT WITH US.
JUST BECAUSE WE MAY NOT BE WORKING TOGETHER
DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE CANNOT STILL LEARN TOGETHER.
THIS ATTITUDE OF CONSTANT TRAINING AND EDUCATION
WILL NOT ONLY HELP OUR PROFESSIONAL LIVES,
BUT WILL AUGMENT OUR PERSONAL CAREERS.
WE ARE ABOUT TO WORK FOR UNIQUE ORGANIZATIONS--
UNIQUE IN THAT THEIR EMPLOYEES MUST BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD,
BOTH ON DUTY AND OFF.
NO OTHER PROFESSION IN THE WORLD CAN CLAIM TO OFFER
WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT PROMISES.
NO OTHER CAREER HAS THE POTENTIAL TO EXPOSE US TO ONE PERSON'S ANGUISH,
ANOTHER'S OUTRAGE,
OR THE OVERWHELMING JOY OF SAVING A LIFE,
ALL IN POTENTIALLY THE SAME NIGHT.
WE WILL ALL BE CONFRONTED BY DARK TIMES SOONER OR LATER
AND, WHEN WE ARE, WE WANT TO BE READY.
REMEMBER OUR OATH OF HONOR, THAT WE ARE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD
AND THAT WE MAY STAY VIGILANT IN OUR BELIEFS,
NO MATTER WHAT THE TEMPTATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH A SIMPLISTIC QUOTE FROM MARK TWAIN
THAT HAS STOOD OUT TO ME.
"ALWAYS DO RIGHT.
"THIS WILL GRATIFY SOME AND ASTONISH THE REST."
RIGHT NOW, I CHALLENGE EACH OF YOU--
RECRUITS, EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS, AND FAMILY MEMBERS--
INDULGE THOSE FEW PEOPLE EXPECTING YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING,
BOTH ON DUTY AND OFF,
BUT MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO ASTONISH EVERYONE ELSE
BY DOING IT WHEN NO ONE ELSE WILL.
THANK YOU.
(applause)
>> EACH YEAR, THE SQUADS-- (clearing throat) EXCUSE ME--
ARE TASKED WITH CHOOSING THE INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR.
THIS YEAR'S RECIPIENT
HAD TO ENDURE OUR SQUAD ON A DAILY BASIS
AFTER WE WERE, BASICALLY, RAN INTO THE GROUND BY OFFICER PETERS.
WE CAME TO CLASS, WE WERE TIRED, WE WERE SORE,
AND OUR ATTENTION SPAN WASN'T THE GREATEST.
THIS INSTRUCTOR...
HE HAD AN ENERGY-- HE BROUGHT AN ENERGY TO THE CLASSROOM
LIKE NO OTHER INSTRUCTOR,
AND THIS WAS EVEN BEFORE HIS MORNING COFFEE.
THIS YEAR'S RECIPIENT OF INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR IS SERGEANT WITTKOWSKI.
SERGEANT WITTKOWSKI, IF YOU COULD COME UP HERE, PLEASE.
(applause)
(indistinct speaking)
SERGEANT WITTKOWSKI, ON BEHALF OF "A" SQUAD,
THIS IS JUST A SMALL TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION.
WE THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU TAUGHT US,
EVERYTHING THAT YOU GAVE TO US THIS YEAR.
THANK YOU.
(applause)
(indistinct speaking)
UH, DIRECTOR, COULD YOU PLEASE COME UP HERE?
ON BEHALF OF "A" SQUAD, WE WOULD LIKE TO, FIRST, THANK YOU
FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY.
AND AS A SMALL TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION, WE HAVE TWO GIFTS FOR YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
(applause)
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORED GUESTS, FRIENDS, AND FAMILY.
BACK IN JANUARY, TEN MONTHS SEEMED LIKE AN ETERNITY...
BUT HERE WE ARE.
WHEN WE LOOK BACK TO JANUARY, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE
THAT THE ONLY WAY WE KNEW EACH OTHER WAS TO LOOK AT EACH OTHER'S NAMETAGS.
BUT NOW, IT SEEMS EVERYBODY HAS A NICKNAME...
LIKE "BUDDHA," "JAWS,"
"CRAZY EYES," "TWO NAMES,"
AND-- MY FAVORITE-- "OLD MAN." (audience laughing)
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT TOGETHER.
WE SURVIVED LOFTY LECTURES OF CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURAL LAW.
WE STUDIED ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION AND PATROL OPERATIONS,
WHICH SEEMED LIKE FOREVER.
WE SURVIVED LIEUTENANT WU AND HIS ENDLESS RUNS THROUGH THE CITY,
AND INTRODUCING US TO SNOW-COVERED HILLS AND COUNTLESS PUSH-UPS
WITH OUR FACE IN THE SNOW.
WE SURVIVED THE TESTS AND THE CONSTANT TESTING.
WE SURVIVED THE RAIN AND THE HEAT.
FOR THE WEEKS AT THE FIRING RANGE,
TO LEARN THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL DISCIPLINE AND TRIGGER CONTROL.
WE SURVIVED THE WAR STORIES, MOST OF WHICH HAD SOME REDEEMING QUALITY.
SERIOUSLY, THOUGH, SOME OF THE THINGS WE'LL PROBABLY REMEMBER MOST
FROM THESE TEN MONTHS OF INSTRUCTION
ARE THE PERSONAL EXPERIENCES RELATED TO US BY OUR INSTRUCTORS.
ONE MESSAGE THAT CAME THROUGH CLEARLY IN ALL THE WAR STORIES,
AND FOR ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS, FOR THAT MATTER, THAT WE'VE RECEIVED...
WAS THAT IN THIS JOB,
WE MUST PERFORM ETHICALLY, HONORABLY,
AND WITH THE HIGHEST INTEGRITY, NO MATTER WHAT.
WE DO NOT PRETEND TO THINK WE'VE LEARNED ALL WE NEED TO KNOW.
AND IT SEEMS THE MORE YOU'VE LEARNED, THE MORE THERE IS TO LEARN.
HOWEVER, I CAN TRULY SAY
THAT THE INSTRUCTORS DID AN AMAZING JOB PREPARING US,
MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY, FOR WHAT LIES AHEAD.
THERE WAS NO SUGARCOATING, NO PRETTY PICTURES PAINTED,
NO EMBELLISHMENTS OR HIDING OF INFORMATION...
AND FOR THAT, I'M GRATEFUL.
I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL THE INSTRUCTORS FOR PROVIDING
THE KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS NEEDED TO DO THIS JOB,
AND FOR LAYING A SOLID FOUNDATION THAT WE CAN BUILD OUR CAREERS UPON.
YOU HAVE TAUGHT US THAT HONOR AND INTEGRITY
ARE REFLECTED NOT ONLY IN OUR PROFESSIONAL LIVES,
BUT OUR PERSONAL LIVES ALSO.
YOU HAVE GIVEN US THE ABILITY TO ACT WITH WISDOM AND COURAGE
IN THE FACE OF FEAR,
AND THE FORTITUDE IT TAKES TO ADMIT WHEN WE ARE WRONG,
LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES, AND MOVE FORWARD...
AND FOR THAT, WE ALL THANK YOU.
(applause)
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
I WOULD, FIRST AND FOREMOST,
LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY
AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, FOR YOUR SUPPORT OVER THE PAST TEN MONTHS.
I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT TODAY ABOUT OUR INSTRUCTORS HERE
AT THE ACADEMY OVER THE PAST YEAR,
SPECIFICALLY FOR "B" SQUAD.
THE REASON WE'RE ALL ABLE TO STAND IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY AS GRADUATES
IS BECAUSE OF THESE MEN AND WOMEN SITTING UP FRONT.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS IS CURRENTLY, OR HAS BEEN,
INVOLVED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IN SOME FORM OR FASHION.
I KNOW "B" SQUAD HAD SEVERAL EXPERIENCED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS,
INCLUDING DETECTIVES, LIEUTENANTS, SERGEANTS, A DEPUTY DIRECTOR,
A SENIOR SPECIAL AGENT, AND EVEN A DISTRICT COURT JUDGE.
THE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE THAT ALL OF THESE INSTRUCTORS
BROUGHT TO CLASS EACH AND EVERY DAY
HELPED US TO LEARN THE MATERIAL MORE EFFECTIVELY
AND APPLY IT IN REAL-WORLD SITUATIONS.
WHILE ALL OF OUR INSTRUCTORS WORKED DILIGENTLY
TO ENSURE WE COULD STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY,
IT IS ACADEMY TRADITION FOR EACH SQUAD TO NOMINATE AN INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR.
THE INSTRUCTOR "B" SQUAD CHOSE FOR THE INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR
WAS AN INSTRUCTOR THAT REALLY CLICKED WITH OUR SQUAD AS A WHOLE.
THEIR TEACHING STYLE AND SENSE OF HUMOR MADE CLASS INTERESTING AND ENJOYABLE.
THIS INSTRUCTOR IS SERGEANT KYLE GRIFFITH FROM SOUTH HAVEN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IF YOU COULD COME ON UP, WE'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH A PLAQUE.
(applause)
WE'D LIKE TO SAY, "THANK YOU, WE LEARNED A LOT
"AND, HOPEFULLY, WE'LL SEE YOU IN THE FUTURE."
>> I HOPE SO.
CONGRATULATIONS, SIR.
>> LET'S GIVE SERGEANT GRIFFITH A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
(applause)
AT THIS TIME, WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO PRESENT DIRECTOR RICHHART
WITH A GIFT FROM "B" SQUAD.
IF YOU COULD PLEASE COME FORWARD.
THIS IS A LARGE TOKEN OF OUR GRATITUDE TO YOU.
(audience laughing)
AND YOUR HARD WORK IN GETTING US HERE TODAY,
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
AND HOPEFULLY, THAT CAN BE WHAT THEY READ IN THE CLASSROOM
FOR YEARS TO COME. >> YOU DIDN'T LIKE THE PAPER ONE?
(laughing) THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. (applause)
ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US GRADUATING TODAY,
I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF OUR INSTRUCTORS AND THE DIRECTOR
FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT THIS YEAR.
IT WAS GREATLY APPRECIATED BY US ALL.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN THE FUTURE, AND THANKS.
(applause)
>> NOW, ON TO OUR STUDENT AWARDS.
I'D LIKE TO ASK DETECTIVE MORNINGSTAR, OFFICER PETERS, LIEUTENANT WU,
AND SERGEANT REMINGA TO PLEASE COME TO THE STAGE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M AN INSTRUCTOR FOR THE EMERGENCY VEHICLE OPERATIONS,
ALONG WITH FOUR OTHER PEOPLE.
WE START OUT THE PROGRAM WITH AN EIGHT HOUR CLASSROOM,
AND IT'S A LONG EIGHT HOURS.
BUT THE GOOD THING IS, WHEN IT WAS DONE, IT WAS DONE.
BUT THEN, WE GOT TO GO OUTSIDE FOR A FULL WEEKEND, RAIN OR SHINE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS YEAR, WE HAD ONE FULL WEEKEND OF RAIN
AND ONE FULL WEEKEND OF SHINE, 90 DEGREES,
WHICH IS KINDA HOT STANDING OUT ON THE BLACKTOP.
RECRUITS WORKED HARD ALL WEEKEND,
AND IT IS FUN TO WATCH THEM PROGRESS
FROM FRIDAY MORNING TILL SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
IT'S HARD TO PICK JUST ONE RECRUIT FROM EACH SQUAD,
BECAUSE ALL OF THEM WORKED SO HARD, LEARNED SO MUCH.
BUT WHAT WE DID IS WE LOOKED AT ATTITUDE,
SKILL, TEST RESULTS, AND LEADERSHIP,
AND CHOSE FROM "A" SQUAD, RYAN SMITH.
(applause)
BUT FROM "B" SQUAD, STEPHEN DUMOND.
(applause)
AND I JUST WANT TO END BY SAYING "CONGRATULATIONS" TO ALL OF YOU.
YOU GUYS WORKED HARD TO GET HERE.
REMEMBER TO ALWAYS BE SAFE AND ALWAYS DRIVE AT YOUR 80 PERCENT.
(applause)
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY,
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE
TO CELEBRATE THE GRADUATION OF THE 78th CLASS.
PRETTY COOL GROUP OF PEOPLE.
IT'S VERY INTERESTING WORKING WITH THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN.
THEY REFER TO 'EM OCCASIONALLY AS "KIDS,"
EVEN THOUGH SOME OF 'EM ARE RATHER OLD KIDS.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE HALFWAY TO 100, LIKE MYSELF,
THAT'S THE PRIVILEGE YOU'RE GONNA GET.
I'D LIKE TO START OUT JUST INTRODUCING MY STAFF.
I SEE ONE OF 'EM HERE.
I'M LOOKING FOR THE OTHER TWO-- THEY'RE PROBABLY BUSY WORKING.
I'M THE LEAD FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR,
AND ALL THAT REALLY MEANS IS I GET STUCK WITH THE PAPERWORK
AND ALL I GET TO HAUL EVERYTHING BACK AND FORTH TO THE RANGE,
SO IT'S REALLY PRESTIGIOUS DEAL. (audience laughing)
BUT THEY OFFER IT TO ME EVERY YEAR, SO THANK YOU, DIRECTOR RICHHART, FOR THAT.
ONE OF MY PARTNERS IS HERE.
NOT JUST A PARTNER OF MINE--
A GREAT FRIEND, A FANTASTIC FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR,
AND THAT IS SPECIAL AGENT BRIAN LUETTKE FROM A.T.F.
BRIAN, JUST RAISE YOUR HAND.
(applause) RIGHT HERE.
GOOD-LOOKING GUY IN THE SHARP SUIT, SITTING DOWN FRONT.
(applause)
GLENN CULBERT AND BRIAN-- AND, UH-- GLENN CULBERT AND GREG WILLSHIRE
ARE ALSO PARTNERS OF MINE THAT TEACH FIREARMS.
THEY'RE FROM THE KENTWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY.
BUT I GOTTA TELL YA, WHAT A FANTASTIC GROUP TO WORK WITH.
WE LOVE WHAT WE DO.
WE HAVE MORE FUN-- I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE SOMETIMES
THAT I'M ACTUALLY EVEN GETTING PAID TO TEACH THESE GUYS FIREARMS.
AND I FELT KINDA GUILTY, SO I HAD A BUCK HERE, JODI.
I WAS GONNA GIVE THAT BACK TO YOU.
(laughing) WE HAVE SO MUCH FUN, BUT REALLY SHE PAID ME FIVE.
GREAT PARTNERS.
ENTHUSIASTIC, KNOWLEDGEABLE, COMMITTED, MOSTLY--
WHAT I LIKE THE BEST IS THEY ARE JUST SO PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT THEY DO.
AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
I THINK I SPEAK FOR ALL OF THEM.
I SAY IT'S JUST AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE
TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PASS ALONG THESE SKILLS
TO THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN.
AND IN OUR AREA OF EXPERTISE, WHICH IS FIREARMS,
IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
THEY START OUT--
THEIR FIRST TEST, IF YOU WILL, IS THREE DAYS OF LECTURE WITH ME.
THREE STRAIGHT DAYS OF LECTURE WITH ME.
AND I'VE BEEN IN THOSE LECTURES FOR THREE DAYS WITH ME
AND I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE, SO IF THEY GET THROUGH THAT,
THEY'RE ALREADY TO A PRETTY GOOD START.
THEY LEARN ABOUT WEAPON SYSTEMS-- YOU KNOW, PISTOLS, RIFLES, SHOTGUNS.
THEY LEARN ABOUT AMMUNITION COMPONENTS--
BALLISTICS, INCAPACITATION FACTORS, NOMENCLATURE-- FANCY WORD FOR "PARTS"--
FIREARM SAFETY, BASIC MARKSMANSHIP, FUNDAMENTALS,
FIREARMS LAW, C.C.W., OPEN CARRY, LEGAL-ILLEGAL FIREARMS.
JUST A WHOLE GAMBIT OF ALL TYPES OF THINGS ACADEMICALLY.
AND ONE THING THAT WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON
IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO OUR FIREARMS TRAINING--
THAT THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE.
AND IT'S EMPLOYMENT-- WHEN ARE YOU JUSTIFIED IN UTILIZING DEADLY FORCE?
I START OUT EVERY CLASS-- AND THEY CAN PROBABLY ATTEST TO THIS--
AND I SAY TO THEM, "FIRST THING I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU IS,
"THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, DO WE SHOOT TO KILL?
"BY A SHOW OF HANDS."
AND EVERY ONE OF THEM RAISES THEIR HAND-- EVERY ONE OF 'EM--
JUST LITERALLY, YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, THEY RAISE THEIR HAND.
AND THAT'S THEIR INITIAL PERCEPTION.
WE ACTUALLY GET TO THE POINT WHERE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT,
"NO, WE DON'T ACTUALLY SHOOT TO KILL.
"WE SHOOT TO STOP A THREAT, TO END A FORWARD AGGRESSION."
ULTIMATELY, WE JUST SHOOT TO INCAPACITATE.
AND THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF LEARNING AND UNDERSTANDING THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT.
WE TRAIN 'EM TO SHOOT CENTER OF MASS POINT OF AIM.
THAT'S BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE ALL THE VITAL ORGANS ARE LOCATED.
WE DO THAT BECAUSE IT'S OUR INTENTION TO DAMAGE THAT VITAL TISSUE.
WE DON'T SHOOT TO KILL, BUT WE KNOWINGLY ACCEPT THE FACT THAT SOMEONE MAY DIE
AS A RESULT OF THAT DEADLY FORCE EMPLOYMENT.
IT'S A RESPONSIBILITY SANCTIONED BY OUR SOCIETY TO TAKE A LIFE.
IT'S A MONUMENTALLY HUGE RESPONSIBILITY.
I CAN'T THINK OF NONE ANY LARGER IN THIS BUSINESS.
AND IT'S NOT AN EASY THING FOR THEM TO ACCEPT
AS PART OF THEIR JOB RESPONSIBILITY,
IS THAT THEY MAY HAVE TO,
IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTY, TAKE A LIFE SOMEDAY.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT IS ABSOLUTELY JUSTIFIED AND NECESSARY
TO PREVENT THE LOSS OF LIFE FOR OTHERS.
IT REQUIRES A GREAT DEAL OF COURAGE, MENTAL DISCIPLINE, AND PREPARATION...
TRAINING WITH THEIR EQUIPMENT, BEING EFFICIENT, BEING COMPETENT,
DEVELOPING WHAT WE LIKE TO CALL "COURAGE UNDER FIRE MENTALITY"--
THAT MENTAL DISCIPLINE WE TALKED ABOUT.
WE HAVE ALLUDED SEVERAL TIMES, DURING THESE PRESENTATIONS,
ABOUT THE INCIDENT
WHERE WE HAD THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER SHOWED,
THE DAY WE LOST OUR MOST RECENT BROTHER OFFICER, TREVOR SLOT.
THAT WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE THAT THOSE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN
WERE WILLING TO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE AND ANSWER THAT CALL.
THEY DEMONSTRATED COURAGE UNDER FIRE IN SPADES,
WHILE INVOLVED IN A GUN BATTLE WITH TWO HEAVILY-ARMED SUSPECTS.
IT WAS THEIR DUTY TO PROTECT AND SERVE THAT PUT THEM IN HARM'S WAY,
AND WE'RE SO THANKFUL THAT THEY PREVAILED AND THAT THEY SURVIVED.
NICE SHOOTING.
I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE GOOD LORD WILL GIVE YOU ALL BONUS POINTS
FOR SENDING THOSE TWO COWARDS TO... YOU FILL IN THE BLANK.
NOW, FOR OUR "A" AND "B" SQUAD SHOOTING AWARDS,
I'D LIKE TO FIRST CALL UP HERE THE FIRST RECIPIENT FROM "A" SQUAD...
MARK RIEMERSMA. (applause)
MARK, I HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT THAT WE'RE GONNA GIVE YA,
AND YOU PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE STAYED SITTING DOWN.
I'VE GOT A GIFT CERTIFICATE HERE FOR GANDER MOUNTAIN FOR $25,000-- OH, NO.
FOR $25. (audience laughing)
SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO GET YOU TOO EXCITED THERE.
THANK YOU, MARK-- YOU DID A GREAT JOB.
WE TESTED THESE INDIVIDUALS ON JUST BASIC SPEED
AND PROFICIENCY IN WEAPONS HANDLING AND STUFF,
AND HAD 'EM SHOOT A COURSE AND GAVE 'EM SOME POINTS AND 'EM ON A TIMER,
AND WE KINDA CAME UP WITH AN AGGREGATE SCORE.
AND FROM "A" SQUAD, HE WAS OUR MORE PROFICIENT SHOOTER.
SO, CONGRATULATIONS, MARK.
GOOD JOB. >> THANK YOU.
(applause)
>> AND NOW, FOR "B" SQUAD, MR. AARON GRAY.
(applause) NICE JOB, AARON.
ACTUALLY, YOURS IS THE $25,000-- NO, YOURS IS 25 BUCKS, TOO.
I'M SORRY. >> APPRECIATE IT.
>> I THOUGHT SOMEBODY WAS GETTING 25 GRAND.
AARON, AGAIN, DID A GREAT JOB FOR SQUAD "B"--
DEMONSTRATED PROFICIENCY WITH ALL HIS WEAPON SYSTEMS.
THEY SHOOT PISTOLS, THEY SHOOT PATROL RIFLES,
AND THEY SHOOT SHOTGUNS.
AND THEY ALL DID A GREAT JOB.
SO, GOOD JOB FOR THAT. (applause)
IN CLOSING, I'D JUST LIKE TO TELL THE RECRUITS A COUPLE REMINDERS
THAT THIS IS A FIELD THAT IS PERISHABLE,
IN THAT, ALTHOUGH I THINK YOU'VE RECEIVED
SOME QUALITY AND SOME REALLY IMPORTANT TRAINING
WHILE YOU'RE HERE AT THE ACADEMY.
YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE THINKING YOU'RE ALREADY PREPARED
TO TAKE ON EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD.
I WANT YOU TO BE COMMITTED AND DEDICATED TO YOUR FIREARMS PROFICIENCY.
LIKE WE TELL YA, THE SKILLS THAT WE TEACH YOU--
IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU GOING HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY.
THAT'S YOUR LEST BAST-- YOUR BEST LAST RESORT IS TO BE PROFICIENT
AND TO BE PREPARED WITH THOSE FIREARMS.
SO, IT GOES WITH THE TERRITORY.
IT'S THE RISK OF THE JOB.
BUT TAKE IT SERIOUSLY, LIKE YOU DID IN TRAINING, AND YOU'LL BE FINE.
SO, BEST OF LUCK TO ALL OF YA.
THANK YOU.
(applause)
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M OFFICER BOB PETERS,
FROM GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I'VE BEEN GIVEN THE JOYFUL OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH "A" SQUAD'S PHYSICAL FITNESS,
SUBJECT CONTROL, AND TACTICS COURSE.
THIS AFTERNOON, I'LL BE PRESENTING THREE AWARDS.
THE FIRST AWARD I WILL BE PRESENTING IS FOR "MOST IMPROVED MALE"
AND "MOST IMPROVED FEMALE" IN THE AREA OF PHYSICAL FITNESS FOR "A" SQUAD.
WOULD RECRUIT WOOD AND RECRUIT PORTER STEP FORWARD, PLEASE.
(applause)
NOW, WHEN WE HEAR "MOST IMPROVED,"
WE OFTEN ASSUME THAT THE PERSON RECEIVING THIS AWARD
WAS DEFICIENT IN THE BEGINNING OF THE AREA THAT THEY'RE RECEIVING THE AWARD.
THE REALITY IS THAT THE ENTIRE CLASS JOINED THE POLICE ACADEMY
AND WAS IN VERY GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION.
SO, WHEN I HAD TO CHOOSE TWO STUDENTS TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD,
I HAD TO RECEIVE THE TEST SCORES, PUT 'EM TOGETHER,
AND COMPARE FROM THE BEGINNING DIAGNOSTIC TEST IN JANUARY
TO THEIR ENDING TEST-- EXIT TEST-- IN THE END OF APRIL.
AND ALL OF THEM PERFORMED WELL.
IN REGARDS TO RECRUIT PORTER-- AT THE BEGINNING OF THE ACADEMY,
RECRUIT PORTER'S TEST SCORES
WERE NOT EXACTLY TO WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SEEN.
THEY'RE AT THE LOW END.
THE REALITY IS, I WASN'T TERRIBLY CONCERNED,
BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE A WHOLE OF ROOM FOR ERROR.
HE WAS GONNA HAVE TO WORK HARD
AND WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY TOWARDS IT.
I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH RECRUIT PORTER, SAYING JUST THAT.
AND IN THE PAST, WITH DIFFERENT CLASSES AND DIFFERENT STUDENTS,
I'VE HAD TO CONTINUE TO STAY IN THAT STUDENT'S EAR
TO REMIND THEM THAT THEY NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK HARD,
THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF ROOM FOR ERROR.
THAT WASN'T THE CASE WITH RECRUIT PORTER.
HE HANDLED THAT SUGGESTION THAT I GAVE HIM VERY PROFESSIONALLY.
I TOLD HIM WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO AND HE JUST WENT OUT AND DID IT.
SO, WHEN HE CAME TO TAKING THE EXIT SCORE,
RECRUIT PORTER PASSED THE EXIT WITH NO CONCERNS.
HE NEARLY DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF PUSH-UPS HE DID IN ONE MINUTE.
HE ALSO REDUCED 34 SECONDS OFF HIS RUN TIME.
SO, FOR THE HARD WORK THAT RECRUIT PORTER'S DEMONSTRATED,
HE'S THE RECIPIENT OF THE "MOST IMPROVED MALE"
IN THE AREA OF PHYSICAL FITNESS
FOR "A" SQUAD.
(applause)
IN REGARDS TO RECRUIT WOOD-- AS I MENTIONED EARLIER,
ALL THE STUDENTS BEGAN THE ACADEMY IN GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION.
AS I REVIEWED THE TEST SCORES TO DETERMINE WHO HAD IMPROVED THE MOST,
I FOUND SOMETHING INTERESTING...
AND THAT IS, RECRUIT WOOD WAS GIVEN THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST IN JANUARY,
VERY EARLY IN THE ACADEMY.
SHE ACTUALLY SCORED HIGH ENOUGH AT THAT TIME TO PASS THE EXIT TEST.
RECRUIT WOOD WORKED VERY HARD ALL SEMESTER.
ALL THREE-- THREE MONTHS LATER, WHEN SHE TOOK THE EXIT TEST,
SHE HAD IMPROVED IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS--
SHE HAD ADDED ONE INCH TO HER VERTICAL JUMP,
ADDED 14 SIT-UPS IN ONE MINUTE,
AND REDUCED HER RUN TIME BY 30 SECONDS.
ADDITIONALLY, SHE MORE THAN DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF PUSH-UPS
SHE WAS ABLE TO DO IN ONE MINUTE.
RECRUIT WOOD COULD HAVE NOT PUSHED HERSELF VERY HARD
AND STILL WOULD HAVE PASSED THE TEST.
INSTEAD, SHE WORKED VERY HARD AND HER EXIT TEST SCORES SHOWED THAT.
THAT IT WHY RECRUIT WOOD IS "MOST IMPROVED FEMALE"
IN THE AREA OF PHYSICAL FITNESS FOR "A" SQUAD.
(applause)
THE LAST AWARD I WILL BE PRESENTING IS THE CHARLES WELLS EXCELLENCE
IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND PHYSICAL FITNESS AWARD.
MR. WELLS WAS A DEDICATED INSTRUCTOR FOR THE POLICE ACADEMY.
HE TAUGHT THE PHYSICAL FITNESS AND SUBJECT CONTROL SECTIONS
FOR EVERY CLASS FOR OVER 25 YEARS.
NOT ONLY WAS HE GIFTED IN TEACHING THE SKILLS,
BUT HE WAS ALSO INCREDIBLE AT MOTIVATING AND ENCOURAGING STUDENTS.
SPEAKING AS A FORMER STUDENT OF HIS,
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE'S A VERY GOOD REASON
WHY HE IS WELL KNOWN AND WELL RESPECTED BY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY
THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE.
MR. WELLS DECIDED, A FEW YEARS AGO,
THAT HE WANTED TO FOCUS ON MORE OF HIS RESPONSIBILITIES
WITHIN THE WELLNESS DEPARTMENT HERE AT GRCC.
WHILE HE STEPPED OUT OF HIS ROLE IN THE POLICE ACADEMY,
THE POLICE ACADEMY STAFF KNEW THAT WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING
TO HONOR THE SERVICE THAT HE PROVIDED TO SO MANY OVER THE YEARS.
THAT IS WHEN WE CREATED THIS AWARD IN HIS NAME.
THE WELLS AWARD IS GIVEN TO ONE STUDENT PER SQUAD EACH YEAR.
THAT STUDENT MUST SHOW EXCELLENCE IN THE AREA OF PHYSICAL FITNESS.
THE AWARD, HOWEVER, DOES NOT NECESSARILY GET AWARDED TO THE STUDENT
WHO HAS THE HIGHEST TEST SCORES.
THIS STUDENT MUST DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE AREA OF PHYSICAL FITNESS.
THIS STUDENT MUST ENCOURAGE AND MOTIVATE OTHERS WITHIN THEIR SQUAD
TO PERFORM THEIR BEST.
WOULD RECRUIT YANCHO STEP FORWARD, PLEASE?
(applause)
RECRUIT YANCHO DEMONSTRATED ALL OF THE THINGS I JUST MENTIONED.
RECRUIT YANCHO HAS A TRUE PASSION FOR PHYSICAL FITNESS.
DURING THE SEMESTER, WHEN THE STUDENTS HAD P.T. CLASS,
RECRUIT YANCHO WAS THEIR SQUAD LEADER.
THAT WORKED OUT VERY WELL BECAUSE I SAW MANY OF THEM TAKING TO HIM
TO ASK QUESTIONS
AND HIM TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES
TO GIVE SUGGESTIONS AND MOTIVATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT.
I ALSO NEVER HEARD A GRUMBLE FROM RECRUIT YANCHO ABOUT EXERCISES.
HE SAW EVERY EXERCISE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE HIMSELF...
SO MUCH SO THAT AFTER WE HAD FINISHED THE P.T. COURSE
AND WE HAD MOVED ON TO THE SUBJECT CONTROL COURSE,
HE DECIDED THAT HE WOULD COME TO ME AND ASK FOR A SPECIAL P.T. DAY.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THE REMINDER OF HIS SQUAD
WAS NOT AS EAGER AS HE WAS TOWARDS THAT DAY.
(audience laughing)
SO, FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT HE PUT FORWARD,
NOT ONLY FOR THE DEDICATION HE DEMONSTRATED TO HIMSELF,
BUT THE DEDICATION THAT HE DEMONSTRATED TO HIS FELLOW SQUAD-MATES,
RECRUIT YANCHO IS THE 2011 "A" SQUAD CHARLES WELLS EXCELLENCE
IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION AWARD WINNER.
(applause)
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, FOLKS.
COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE THAT I GOT A COUPLE OF OLD RECRUITS
SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE HERE WHO HAVE ENDURED MY PUNISHMENTS
ON "B" SQUAD BEFORE.
SO, JOHN SHAFFER, YOU WANNA STAND UP REAL QUICK?
OFFICER JOHN SHAFFER.
(applause)
WELL, AS OFFICER PETERS SAYS, WHEN WE GET OUR RECRUITS,
THEY COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES AND VARYING FITNESS LEVELS.
SOME ARE IN BETTER SHAPE THAN OTHERS.
SOME PUT THE INSTRUCTORS TO THE TEST RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
OUR JOB WITH THEM IS TO GET THEM READY...
TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE SAFE...
TO GIVE THEM THE SKILLS TO STAY HEALTHY...
AND TO GIVE THEM SKILLS,
OVER THE LONG HAUL OF THE COURSE OF THEIR CAREER,
SO THEY ENJOY THEIR RETIREMENT.
WE DO THIS INTENSE TRAINING
THAT CHALLENGES THEM BOTH ON A PHYSICAL LEVEL,
BUT ALSO THEIR WILL TO PERSEVERE, TO KEEP ON GOING.
A LOT OF TIMES, WHEN WE ARE AT OUR MOST TIRED,
WHEN OUR LUNGS ARE BURNING,
WHEN ARE MUSCLES ARE SCREAMING, THAT'S WHEN WE DEVELOP OUR CHARACTER,
THAT'S WHEN WE MAKE THAT DECISION TO KEEP ON MOVING FORWARD...
AND THAT QUALITY, THAT CHARACTERISTIC, IS VERY ESSENTIAL IN A POLICE OFFICER.
SO, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A QUICK HIGHLIGHT
OF SOME OF "B" SQUAD'S...
CHARACTERISTICS.
THINGS THAT THEY HAVE DONE OVER THE PAST YEAR,
AND I DO THIS IN THE WAY OF A SCORECARD.
ONE OF THE LAST PHOTOS YOU SAW ON THE VIDEO
WAS A VERY DIM RUN UP A SNOWY JANUARY HILL
ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF GRAND RAPIDS.
THAT'S THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS-- IT WAS EARLY IN THE MORNING.
NOBODY, REALLY, WAS ALL THAT WILD ABOUT IT,
ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY GOT TO THE TOP.
SO, AS FAR AS THE SCORECARD GOES,
LIEUTENANT WU AND OFFICER PETERS, ONE, RECRUITS, ZERO.
(audience laughing)
CROSS-TRAINING IN THE FIELDHOUSE, WHERE WE'RE SITTING RIGHT NOW...
UH, A LOT OF DAYS SPENT HERE IN THE GYM,
IN THE MAT ROOM, ACROSS THE HALL.
LIEUTENANT WU, TWO, RECRUITS, ZERO.
URBAN RUNNING THROUGH THE WINTER, I THINK IT WAS MENTIONED ONCE ALREADY BEFORE.
5 O'CLOCK TRAFFIC CAN BE ***--
5 O'CLOCK TRAFFIC AS YOU ARE RUNNING WITH SWEAT RUNNING DOWN YOUR FACE,
TRYING TO AVOID BEING HIT, IS ANOTHER STORY.
LIEUTENANT WU, THREE, RECRUITS, ZERO.
LIEUTENANT WU HAS HIS FINGER DISLOCATED BY RECRUIT RICHARDSON
DURING A MAXIMAL EFFORT DRILL.
LIEUTENANT WU, THREE, RECRUITS, ONE.
(audience laughing)
LIEUTENANT WU WAS PILE-DRIVEN BY RECRUIT GOEHRING
DURING A GRAPPLING DRILL.
LIEUTENANT WU, THREE, RECRUITS, TWO.
LIEUTENANT WU TEARS A CALF MUSCLE DURING A...
CARDIOVASCULAR TEAM EFFORT EXERCISE
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS SOCCER.
(audience laughing)
LIEUTENANT WU, THREE, RECRUITS, THREE.
LIEUTENANT WU'S ABILITY TO FATHER MORE CHILDREN
IS SERIOUSLY JEOPARDIZED DURING A FRIENDLY GAME OF DODGEBALL.
(audience laughing)
LIEUTENANT WU, THREE, RECRUITS, FOUR.
NEVER HAVE I BEEN SO HAPPY
TO SEE A SQUAD GRADUATE AND MOVE ON.
(audience laughing)
IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, THOUGH...
SQUAD "B"-- IN MY TENURE AS AN INSTRUCTOR
FOR PHYSICAL READINESS AND FITNESS--
AS A GROUP, HAS DONE HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE MOST OF THE GROUPS
THAT I'VE EVER HAD HERE.
THEIR ATTENTION TO INTENSITY,
THEIR WANT TO DO MORE WAS A CHALLENGE FOR ME.
I FOUND IT HARD TO KEEP UP, SOMETIMES, WITH THEM.
THAT SAID, THERE ARE RECRUITS THAT STAND OUT MORE THAN OTHERS.
SOME THAT COME IN AT A FITNESS LEVEL THAT SOMETIMES IS A LITTLE BIT LOWER
THAN EVERYBODY ELSE'S,
AND THEY PUT 100, 150 PERCENT EFFORT IN,
AND WHEN THEY GRADUATE,
THEY ARE NOT THE SAME PERSON THAT THEY WERE WHEN THEY STARTED.
SO, IF I COULD HAVE NATASHIA SMITH AND TIM WIERENGA STEP TO THE STAGE, PLEASE.
AND WHEN I SAY THESE THINGS-- NATASHIA, WHY DON'T YOU COME OVER HERE?
WHEN I SAY THESE THINGS, I DON'T MEAN TO EMBARRASS.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT NATASHIA FIRST.
WHEN SHE CAME TO THE RECRUIT OPENING DAY CLASS FOR ME,
NATASHIA-- IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT BETWEEN THE...
THE PRE-TEST FOR MCOLES AND THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS,
NATASHIA HAD BEEN SITTING ON THE COUCH A LITTLE BIT.
(audience laughing)
NATASHIA WAS ABLE TO DO TWO PUSH-UPS...
WHICH... IS GOOD, NOT GREAT.
HOWEVER, WHEN SHE LEFT THE ACADEMY,
SHE WAS ABLE TO DO 20 PUSH-UPS.
THAT'S ABOUT A 900 PERCENT INCREASE IN PERFORMANCE.
(applause)
SHE GAINED TWO INCHES ON HER VERTICAL JUMP.
DID 11 MORE SIT-UPS, 28 PERCENT INCREASE THERE.
AND DROPPED HER HALF MILE SHUTTLE RUN BY MORE THAN A MINUTE.
SO, WITH THAT AMOUNT OF IMPROVEMENT IN PERFORMANCE,
I AWARD THE "MOST IMPROVED FEMALE" AWARD TO RECRUIT NATASHIA SMITH.
(applause)
AND THEN, WE HAVE TIMOTHY.
TIM IS KINDA TALL, KINDA LANKY.
WHEN I FIRST SAW HIM, I WANTED TO NICKNAME HIM "ICHABOD CRANE."
(audience laughing)
BUT HE ALWAYS GAVE ME EVERYTHING HE HAD.
HE LEFT EVERYTHING OUT ON THE FLOOR.
SOMETIMES, HE LEFT EVERYTHING ON THE STREET.
(audience chuckling)
SOMETIMES, HE LEFT IT ON THE SIDE OF A HILL.
LITERALLY.
BUT TIM ALWAYS-- HE ALWAYS SOUGHT TO IMPROVE.
HE KNEW WHERE SOME OF HIS DEFICIENCIES WERE
AND HE ALWAYS GAVE ME EVERYTHING HE HAD.
SO MUCH SO THAT, UM...
HE GAINED 115 PERCENT IMPROVEMENT ON HIS PUSH-UPS.
HE DROPPED 41 SECONDS IN HIS HALF MILE SHUTTLE RUN.
AND-- AN ASTOUNDING FACT AND FIGURE HERE--
HIS BODY COMPOSITION, FAT TO MUSCLE,
HE DROPPED 13 POUNDS OF FAT BUT GAINED 11 POUNDS OF MUSCLE
OVER THE COURSE OF OUR WORK-OUTS.
AN AMAZING FEAT.
SO, FOR THE "MOST IMPROVED MALE,"
I AWARD THIS CERTIFICATE TO TIM WIERENGA.
(applause)
>> MY CHARLIE WELLS AWARDS RECIPIENT--
HE WAS AN OLD MAN.
HE STILL IS AN OLD MAN, BUT HE IS AN INTENSE OLD MAN.
IT WAS EVIDENT BY THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS THAT,
AS SOON AS HE STEPPED THROUGH THE DOOR,
THAT HE WAS THE "GO TO" PERSON FOR THE SQUAD.
HE HAD AN INTENSITY ABOUT HIM AND A MATURITY LEVEL
THAT SET THE PACE FOR THE ENTIRE SQUAD.
HE WAS VERY MATTER OF FACT, BUT ALSO HAD A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR.
HIS AGE, THOUGH, ALSO, KEPT HIM BEHIND A LITTLE BIT AS WE FIRST STARTED.
THAT DIDN'T STOP HIM, THOUGH.
I MEAN, HE WAS VERY, VERY FOCUSED ON GETTING BETTER.
THE LEADERSHIP ASPECT IS WHAT REALLY STOOD OUT ABOUT THIS RECRUIT, THOUGH.
NOT ONLY WAS HE ABLE TO BRING HIS OWN PERFORMANCE UP,
BUT THERE WERE TIMES WHEN HE WAS, UH-- IT'S LIKE HE WAS DOING MY JOB.
HE WAS IN SOMEBODY'S EAR, YELLING AT 'EM OR PULLING 'EM ALONG,
GETTING 'EM TO DO BETTER.
SO, IT WAS-- IF, UH-- IT WAS ALMOST LIKE, "HEY, GO GET 'EM."
BOOM!
HE WAS ON 'EM.
AND HE WAS GETTING 'EM ROLLING, GETTING 'EM RUNNING,
GETTING THEIR PERFORMANCE UP TO A GOOD LEVEL, TOO.
THIS RECRUIT GAINED EIGHT PUSH-UPS BETWEEN OUR DIAGNOSTIC AND OUR EXIT.
HE DROPPED 35 SECONDS OFF OF HIS HALF-MILE SHUTTLE RUN.
AND DRAMATICALLY RESTRUCTURED HIS BODY FAT COMPOSITION,
DROPPING 14 POUNDS OF FAT, GAINING 18 POUNDS OF MUSCLE--
ASTOUNDING.
DISPLAYED CONFIDENCE, CONTROL, INTENSITY,
AND CALM UNDER PRESSURE.
DEMONSTRATED A KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
IN THE IMPORTANCE OF FITNESS AS IT RELATES TO JOB READINESS,
TACTICAL PREPAREDNESS,
AND ALWAYS DISPLAYED THE "NEVER QUIT, ALWAYS SURVIVE" ATTITUDE THAT I LOOK FOR.
SO, FOR MY "B" SQUAD CHARLIE WELLS RECIPIENT,
I'D LIKE TO CALL CHRIS GOEHRING TO THE STAGE.
(applause)
>> THANKS.
>> OUR FINAL AWARD TODAY WILL BE GIVEN BY MR. JIM DeVRIES,
REPRESENTING THE MICHIGAN COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARDS.
>> GRADUATES AND FAMILY MEMBERS AND FELLOW LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS,
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO PARTICIPATE HERE TODAY.
I'M HERE TODAY TO BRING CONGRATULATIONS
FROM THE MICHIGAN COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARDS.
AS A COMMISSIONER, I REPRESENT SEVERAL DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES
WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY.
THE COMMISSION IS MADE UP OF 14 MEMBERS WHO ARE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR,
AND THREE ADDITIONAL MEMBERS WHO, BY LAW,
ARE COMMISSIONERS BY VIRTUE
OF THE POSITIONS THEY HOLD IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
COMMISSION MEMBERS REPRESENTS CHIEFS OF POLICE, SHERIFFS,
LAW ENFORCEMENT, LABOR ORGANIZATIONS, PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS,
THE CRIMINAL DEFENSE BAR, THE DETROIT POLICE DEPARTMENT,
THE MICHIGAN STATE POLICE, AND THE MICHIGAN ATTORNEY GENERAL.
GRADUATES, I WELCOME EACH OF YOU INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT
AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE FAMILY THAT THE COMMISSION REPRESENTS.
AS I DO THIS, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MINUTE TO CHALLENGE EACH OF YOU
TO REACH OUT AND BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH YOUR EXTENDED LAW ENFORCEMENT FAMILY.
THERE ARE NEARLY 20,000 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN THE STATE.
DEVELOPING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT
AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE DISCIPLINES WILL NOT ONLY SPEAK HIGHLY OF YOUR AGENCY,
IT WILL REFLECT ON HOW YOU ARE REVIEWED IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY.
THAT EXTENDED FAMILY OF WHICH YOU ARE NOW A MEMBER
IS REFLECTED IN MCOLES.
OUR STAFF AND THE COMMISSION ITSELF ARE COMPOSED OF PERSONS
WHO POSSESS A WEALTH OF FIELD EXPERIENCE,
AS WELL AS ADVANCED EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
MCOLES, AS YOU KNOW, IS COMMITTED TO THE CONTINUING PROFESSIONALISM
OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
BY LAW, THE COMMISSION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING
AND ADMINISTERING SELECTIONS AND TRAINING STANDARDS
THAT ARE USED TO IDENTIFY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES
AND PREPARE THEM TO PERFORM THE IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS
OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
AS PART OF THAT PREPARATION,
THE COMMISSION RECOGNIZES CANDIDATES
WHO HAVE PERFORMED IN AN EXEMPLARY MANNER THROUGHOUT THE TRAINING PROCESS.
THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES MANY THINGS.
HOWEVER, THE KEY COMPONENT IN A CANDIDATE'S PREPARATION
TO DO THE JOB OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
IS THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE ACADEMY TRAINING.
THE MCOLES OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AWARD
IS PRESENTED TO THE RECRUIT
WHO HAS DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE
IN THE ACADEMY PERFORMANCE.
THE RECIPIENT TYPIFIES THE CHARACTERISTICS
OF AN IDEAL OFFICER BY EXHIBITING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS
OF CRIMINAL, MENTAL, PHYSICAL, MORAL, FITNESS,
WHILE IN THE TRAINING ENVIRONMENT.
TO BE SELECTED FOR THIS AWARD,
RECRUITS ARE RATED BY THE ACADEMY STAFF,
FELLOW RECRUITS, BASED ON OVERALL ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT,
SKILL PERFORMANCE, APPEARANCE, LEADERSHIP,
AND COMMUNICATIONS ABILITY.
WE HAVE TWO RECIPIENTS TODAY, ONE FOR EACH SQUAD-- BOTH "A" AND "B."
ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARDS,
IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO PRESENT THE OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AWARD
TO SQUAD "A," TO ERICK PORTER.
(applause)
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
>> AND FOR SQUAD "B," STEPHEN DUMOND.
(applause)
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR.
>> IN 2009, THE POLICE ACADEMY JOINED A TRADITION
THAT DATES BACK TO WORLD WAR I...
THE ISSUANCE OF A CHALLENGE COIN.
FROM ITS MILITARY BEGINNINGS,
THE CHALLENGE COIN HAD A SPECIAL MEANING TO THOSE THAT CARRIED IT.
IT IDENTIFIES MEMBERSHIP AND AFFILIATION WITH A SELECT GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS,
AND HAS BEEN WIDELY ADOPTED BY POLICE, FIRE, AND E.M.S. AGENCIES
AFTER THE TERRORIST ATTACKS OF SEPTEMBER 11th.
ONCE THE COIN HAS BEEN EARNED,
THE MEMBER CAN BE CHALLENGED BY A FELLOW COIN-HOLDER
TO PRODUCE THE COIN OR PAY THE CONSEQUENCES.
THE COIN IS EARNED AND NEVER JUST GIVEN.
ON THE FRONT OF THE COIN IS A PICTURE OF THE BADGE
THAT REPRESENTS GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE...
AND ON THE BACK OF THE COIN IS THE OATH OF HONOR, WHICH YOU CAN SEE--
THERE'S A THEME HERE THROUGHOUT EVERYBODY TODAY
REFERRING BACK TO THE OATH OF HONOR.
TO SQUADS "A" AND "B"-- IT HAS BEEN AN AMAZING YEAR,
FILLED WITH SO MANY MEMORIES.
I HOPE THAT THIS COIN SERVES AS AN EVERY DAY REMINDER
THAT YOU ARE PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER THAN YOURSELF.
I HOPE THAT YOU WILL REMEMBER WHERE YOU CAME FROM
AND THE BONDS THAT WERE FORMED AS YOU EARNED THIS.
LET IT BE AN EVERY DAY REMINDER THAT YOU WILL NEVER BETRAY YOUR BADGE,
YOUR INTEGRITY, YOUR CHARACTER, OR THE PUBLIC TRUST.
YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE COURAGE TO HOLD YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE
FOR YOUR ACTIONS, UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION,
YOUR COMMUNITY, AND THE AGENCY THAT YOU SERVE.
IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO PRESENT SESSION 78
WITH THE GRCC POLICE ACADEMY CHALLENGE COIN.
MR. ZEEFF, WILL YOU PLEASE ASSIST ME?
>> "B" SQUAD, ATTENTION!
>> IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU TO EACH OF THE GRADUATES,
BEGINNING WITH "B" SQUAD, STARTING WITH BRANDON ALLEN.
(applause)
STEPHEN DUMOND.
(applause)
CHRIS GOEHRING.
(applause)
AARON GRAY.
(applause)
RICHARD KLIMMER.
(applause)
LEE MASTENBROOK.
(applause)
JOSIAH McMAINS.
(applause)
JUSTIN PICKERD.
(applause)
ERIC PULASKI.
(applause)
CHRISTOPHER RICHARDSON.
(applause)
OBADIAH RIOJAS.
(applause)
JUAN RIVERA-GONZALEZ.
(applause)
JENNA SAUNDERS.
(applause)
GERALD SEEVERS.
(applause)
NATASHIA SMITH.
(applause)
TYLER TenBRINK.
(applause)
TIMOTHY WIERENGA.
(applause)
NICE JOB, TIM. >> APPRECIATE IT.
>> "B" SQUAD, BE SEATED.
>> "A" SQUAD, TEN-HUT!
>> NOW, THE MEMBERS OF "A" SQUAD, SEAN BRUURSEMA.
(applause)
ERIN DOW.
(applause)
SCOTT GRAMS.
(applause)
PETER GROOTERS.
(applause)
BRIAN HANSFORD.
(applause)
ERICK PORTER.
(applause)
JOSEPH POWELL.
(applause)
MARK RIEMERSMA.
(applause)
SHAWN SCHRIPSEMA.
(applause)
CHARLES SMITH.
(applause)
RYAN SMITH.
(applause)
LESLIE TALBOTT.
(applause)
KOREN VERSTRATE.
(applause)
ASHLEY WOOD.
(applause)
JOSHUA YANCHO.
(applause)
>> "A" SQUAD, BE SEATED.
>> SESSION 78, ATTENTION!
SQUADS, DISMISSED!
>> THIS CONCLUDES OUR CEREMONY.
WE ASK THAT YOU ALL JOIN US FOR CAKE AND REFRESHMENTS NEXT DOOR.
(applause)
(general chatter)