Behind the Badge
As Orange County’s newest law enforcement officers stood at attention on their graduation day, Huntington Beach Police Chief Robert Handy didn’t wish them luck.
Luck, Handy said, isn’t what makes an officer great and it isn’t what keeps them safe on the job.
“Every time I think of people describing excellence as luck I think of one of my favorite quotes by Thomas Jefferson: ‘I believe in luck. The harder I work, the luckier I get,’” he told the audience. “This statement is so true regarding policing.
“The more you put into your own development, the more effort you put into your own training, the more effort you put into the service that you provide, the more successful you will be but, more importantly, the bigger difference you will make.”
The Golden West Criminal Justice Training Center on Friday, Sept. 16, graduated 20 new law enforcement officers — Class No. 152 — in a ceremony at Orange Coast Community College.
Golden West College Criminal Justice Training Center’s Basic Police Academy Class No. 152, including Frani Echavarria and Ian MacLeith, right, give their oath at the conclusion of graduation ceremonies.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
For the last six months, the recruits spent thousands of hours learning to become peace officers for agencies across Southern California.
They have submitted to more than 100 tests, 16 hours of ride-alongs and too many pushups and pull-ups to count.
But this is only the beginning of learning how to best serve their communities because they have chosen a career that requires a commitment to being a lifelong student, Handy said.
“I really encourage you to look at policing as a craft,” Handy said. “I encourage you to develop your skill set and learn to find solutions to the problems you’re going to encounter in the communities you’re about to serve.”
Orange PD recruit Anthony Castaneda, left, adjusts the tie of a classmate before Golden West College Criminal Justice Training Center graduation ceremonies at Orange Coast College.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The profession will come with daily trials, and the officers are entering the profession in what some of the graduation speakers at called the most challenging time for law enforcement in its history.
Despite the national negative rhetoric, many are still answer the call to serve in what Huntington Beach Mayor Jim Katapodis said is “the greatest job ever.”
“For 38 years, I was a law enforcement officer, and I would not have done anything else,” said Katapodis, who is a retired Los Angeles PD sergeant. “I don’t care what people are saying. I don’t care what they do. Police officers are the greatest protector of citizens everywhere.”
Academy class president Ian MacLeith said he believes his fellow officers are up for the challenge.
“The protesting and killing of police officers occurring all over the country created an urgent sense within us to get out on the streets and do our part,” MacLeith said. “We learned the importance of always doing what is right, following department policy and procedures and knowing the public is always watching us.”
Golden West College Criminal Justice Training Center’s Basic Police Academy Class No. 152 congratulate each other at the conclusion of graduation ceremonies.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Meet class No. 152:
Honor Recruit: Ian MacLeith
Lifetime Fitness Award: Jonathan McKee
Report writing: Nicholas McDermott
Field problems: Christopher Bates, Ronald Goodwin and Ian MacLeith
Firearms proficiency: Nicholas McDermott
Director’s Character Award (voted on by peers): Jordan Diaz
ALHAMBRA POLICE DEPARTMENT
Christopher Bates
Tanya Fristoe
Sergio Llamas
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE
Maribel Paez
Nelson Rodriguez
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES
Fernando Ponce
GOLDENWEST COLLEGE
Klevis Buzi
Ronnie Echavarria
Sam Houx
Roger Malcolm
Nicole Pizzati
HUNTINGTON BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT
Jordan Diaz
Ian MacLeith
LA HABRA POLICE DEPARTMENT
Nicholas McDermott
LAGUNA BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT
Ronald Goodwin
LONG BEACH AIRPORT
Eric Martinez
ORANGE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Orange Police Chief Tom Kisela, right, presents Recruit Anthony Castaneda with his diploma during the Golden West College Criminal Justice Training Center graduation ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Anthony Castaneda
SANTA ANA POLICE DEPARTMENT
Jonathan McKee
SIGNAL HILL POLICE DEPARTMENT
Taylor Byrd
WESTMINSTER POLICE DEPARTMENT
Frani Echavarria
Westminster PD Interim Police Chief Roy Campos, right, presents recruit Frani Echavarria with her basic police academy diploma during Golden West College Criminal Justice Training Center’s graduation ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
La Habra recruit Nicholas McDermott is congratulated by the Golden West College Criminal Justice Training Center academy instructors before the start of graduation ceremonies.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Academy Instructors, left, and recruits, right, stand at the start of GWC’s Criminal Justice Training Center Basic Police Academy Class No. 152.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Westminster PD Recruit Frani Echavarria helps present the Six Pillars of Character during Golden West College Criminal Justice Training Center’s Basic Police Academy graduation ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
La Habra Police Chief Jerry Price, right, presents La Habra Officer Nicholas McDermott with Golden West College Criminal Justice’s Firearms Proficiency award during Golden West College Criminal Justice’s graduation ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
