VCU news

By Mike Porter

Graduation exercises were held for 18 men and women who successfully completed 19 weeks of intense training during the 38^th Basic Law Enforcement Academy conducted by the Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department.  

The graduates were recognized at a ceremony April 12 at the Richmond Police Department Training Academy.

VCU Police Chief John Venuti called on the new graduates to do more than is expected, be problem solvers, educate and involve the public and treat others with respect and dignity.

“Keep (members of the public) safe and help them,” said Venuti.  “If you can do that, you will be a success.”  

Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Herring served as keynote speaker and told the graduates that as new officers, they will also serve as social workers, therapists and guardians.

“The success of your work will be measured by outcome and equally measured by presentation,” Herring said. “You must speak and act with professionalism, poise and clarity.”

Class members received extensive training in criminal and traffic law, emergency vehicle operations, firearms, defensive tactics, ethics, investigations, victimology, anti-hate and terrorism, crisis intervention and community policing.

Casey B. Jones represented the 38^th Basic Law Enforcement Academy as class president.

“We started out as civilian couch potatoes and have transformed to physically fit, crime-fighting human beings,” Jones said. “We arrived as strangers and leave as friends.”  

The graduating class included representatives of the VCU, Virginia Union and Richmond Airport police departments. The 18 graduates are:

• Krista M. Barton, Virginia Commonwealth University Police
  
  
• Orride T. Broaddus Jr., Virginia Commonwealth University Police
  
  
• Jermell Chatman, Virginia Union University Police
  
  
• Chelsey A. Cocke, Virginia Commonwealth University Police
  
  
• Michael A. Cooper, Virginia Commonwealth University Police
  
  
• Curtis R. Diesselhorst, Virginia Commonwealth University Police
  
  
• Logan P. English, Richmond Airport Police Department
  
  
• Edwin Gomez, Virginia Commonwealth University Police
  
  
• Casey B. Jones, Virginia Commonwealth University Police
  
  
• Jason S. Malone, Virginia Commonwealth University Police
  
  
• Matthew E. McCarty,  Virginia Commonwealth University Police
  
  
• David C. Miller II, Virginia Commonwealth University Police
  
  
• K. Lee Olds Jr. Virginia Commonwealth University Police
  
  
• Chad M. Perrigan, Virginia Commonwealth University Police
  
  
• Jaime Rodriguez, Virginia Commonwealth University Police
  
  
• David A. Shiner, Virginia Commonwealth University Police
  
  
• Luke T. Shrader, Virginia Commonwealth University Police
  
  
• Morgan T. Swim, Virginia Commonwealth University Police

Swim received the class award for best combined achievement, Cocke received an award for scholastic achievement, English received an award for best marksmanship and Broaddus received an award for best emergency vehicle operation. Physical fitness awards were presented to Broaddus, English, Jones, McCarty, Perrigan, Shiner and Swim. Chatman received an award for physical training.


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