On Friday March 13, 2020, a
total of the 81 polished recruits lined up at the STARS Center Gymnasium, in
what would be their final platoon formation as academy classmates. After
22 weeks of rigorous academy training, the recruits pressed through an equally
intense and meticulous formal class inspection by law enforcement executives
just before the ceremony.
The ceremony was a formal transformation of academy recruits
into sworn peace officers. Sheriff Alex Villanueva presided over the graduation ceremony, and delivered
encouraging remarks to the 17 female and 64 male graduates and their guests.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva was joined on stage by Chief George Mueller, California
Department of Insurance; Assistant Chief Ronald Iizuka, Culver City Police
Department; Chief Mark Fronterotta, Inglewood Police Department; Deputy Chief
Timothy Anderson, Los Angeles School Police Department; Region 7 Manager
Matthew O’Deane, California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training,
in presenting the 81 graduates with their Peace Officer Standards and Training
certificates. The graduates were then officially sworn in as California
Peace Officers
In a special segment of the ceremony, Nathaniel T. Hocking,
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, was named as the class Honor
Recruit. This award is earned by the recruit who achieved the highest
numerical average based upon leadership qualities, academics, marksmanship, and
physical performance throughout the training period. Michael
Guzman, California Department of Insurance, was honored as Academic
Recruit. This award is earned by the recruit who achieved the highest
academic scores.
Each class of recruits processed through the Los Angeles
County Sheriff’s Department STARS Center Training Academy, brings together a
collection of unique aspects, qualities and experiences. Academy Class #445 is
a largely international collection of backgrounds, reflective of the vast array
of cultures found within Los Angeles County.
Of the 81 graduating recruits, 10 were born outside the United States in
the countries of Guatemala, India, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, and Serbia; 9 recruits
lived abroad in the countries of Germany, Guatemala, India, Iraq, Japan, New
Zealand (33 years), Peru (34 years), and Serbia (26 years); and 50 recruits
speak a language other than English, including Arabic, Bosnian, Croatian,
Hindi, Gujarati, Serbian, and Spanish.
These graduates bring with them a large source of higher
education (32), service experience in the armed forces (12), and backgrounds in
law enforcement (10), and many come from families with a tradition of serving
in law enforcement (28).
Congratulations Academy Class 445!
