Behind the Badge
On Friday, March 17, 35 police recruits graduated from the Golden West Criminal Justice Training Center.
Class President Eric Velazquez, the oldest recruit in the graduating class at 39 years, gave the class president’s address. He eloquently and with humor spoke on behalf of Class 153.
Orange PD Recruit Eric Velazquez gives the class president’s speech during the GWC Police Academy class of 153 graduation ceremony on March 17.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
“Some people made the typical assumptions about my midlife crisis but I told them if that were the case that I would have gone skydiving or at least (bought) a Range Rover,” he said. “But no, I decided to subject myself to six months of dry turkey sandwiches and getting yelled at by people who were mostly younger than me.”
Velazquez further added as he looked over his classmates, “In a time when many have chosen to stand against the police, these men and women have chosen to stand in solidarity with them, not only in thought but in service.”
The City of Orange Honor Guard presents the colors at the start of the Golden West College Police Academy Class 153 graduation ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Police chiefs from various agencies and other guests stand for the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the GWC police academy graduation ceremonies.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
That was to be a reoccurring theme among speakers.
It’s a challenging time to be a police officer. But there are still men and women who are willing to take up the challenge.
Keynote speaker Orange Police Chief Tom Kisela said: “Too often, especially lately, some in our society are openly vocal about their criticisms of law enforcement. Often judgment is passed on officers before facts are known and without considerations for the difficulties and complexities of what we are asked to do.”
Orange Police Chief Tom Kisela gives the keynote speech at the GWC Police Academy class of 153 graduation ceremony on March 17.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
“Your reputation is just what people think of you. Your character is who you really are so protect it all costs by doing the right thing.”
“You will not always be appreciated to the degree you think appropriate, you will not always be respected like you deserve. You will be required to work when you’re exhausted. You will not always get the assignment or promotion when you want it. You’ll be asked to do things that are unpleasant. You’ll be forced to make hard choices. You’ll be expected to do the right thing when it’s difficult. You’ll see things that others never want to see. You’ll experience things that will break your heart. In all of this you’ll always be expected to be a better person, to keep your head up and continuously push forward and stay the course.”
I couldn’t disagree with Chief Kisela’s assessment of expectations. It makes you wonder why people continue to seek out law enforcement as a career.
In a 2015 survey by Calibre Press, 81 percent of nearly 3,500 officers surveyed were not encouraging their children to enter the profession of law enforcement.
Yet in Class 153 were a handful of recruits whose relatives were in law enforcement.
My nephew, Matt Vargas from the Anaheim Police Department, was one of them. His father, Phil Vargas, is a robbery detective for the Anaheim PD. His grandfather, Jose Vargas, retired from the Santa Ana PD. I retired from the Anaheim Police Department in 2010.
I asked his dad after the ceremony how much encouragement he gave his son to become a police officer. His response was: “None. He did it all on his own. I just told him whatever he decided I would support him and to give 110 percent effort.”
I’m sure my father, Jose Vargas, is looking down and very proud at this third-generation police officer.
I spoke with the parents of Ashley Hunter. Jan and Jerry Hunter are both retired law enforcement officers. Jan was a lieutenant with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Jerry retired as the assistant chief of the California Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement.
The Hunter’s extended family is filled with both current and retired law enforcement officers. Ashley also would be a third-generation police officer.
I asked Jan the question, “Did you encourage Ashley to become a police officer?” Jan’s response was quick.
“No, I didn’t. She was going to go into the medical profession but as time went on she seemed to be determined to become a police officer. With all the violence and public attitudes against the police I just didn’t think this was a good time.”
I spoke with Jerry Hunter, who also said he didn’t encourage Ashley.
“She decided on her own this was she wanted to do,” he said. “I don’t think there was anything I could do to stop her.”
Velazquez is the son-in-law of retired Capt. Steve Ames of the Orange Police Department.
I asked him if he encouraged Eric to become a police officer. His response was unequivocal.
“I absolutely did,” Ames said.
He clarified it by adding: “For some of us in law enforcement this isn’t just a job. It’s a calling. People who enter it feel they are led there. There are not many jobs out there where you can look in the mirror and you can be proud of what you do.”
The children of cops become cops because they know what real cops are like. They are men and women who love what they do, fulfilled by their work and most of all, real people making a difference. They, more than anyone else, know who cops really are and therefore are in a better position to follow the examples their families have modeled for them.
So it is with all the recruits who graduated. They are entering a profession that is both satisfying and rewarding. As Chief Kisela noted, it’s not without its challenges but in the end, it is a great career choice.
Good luck members of Class 153.
Alhambra Police Department
Rebeca Madrigal
Anaheim Police Department
Ashley Hunter
Matthew Vargas
Anaheim PD Recruit Matthew Vargas is congratulated by instructors before the start of the Golden West College Police Academy Class 153 graduation ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim PD recruits Ashley Hunter and Matthew Vargas get ready to enter the auditorium for the start of GWC police academy graduation ceremonies. Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Department of Alcohol & Beverage Control
Zachary Holland
California State University of Los Angeles
Rickey Hammond Jr.
Cypress Police Department
Anne-Marie Bulone
Andrew Morse
Fullerton Police Department
Eric Carrillo
Brandon Ramek
Nolan Turner
Anthony Vega
Fullerton PD Recruit Brandon Ramek, left, smiles before the start of police academy graduation ceremonies. Behind him are Fullerton recruits Nolan Turner and Anthony Vega.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Fullerton PD recruits take the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics oath at the conclusion of the Golden West College Police Academy Class 153 graduation ceremony on March 17.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Golden West College
John Boyer
Michael Cirrincione
Ashley Krotine
Matthew Spencer
James Suh
Jorge Valle
Hawthorne Police Department
Brandon Arth
Laguna Beach Police Department
Matthew Myer
Monrovia Police Department
Kyle Cleveland
Brandon Tang
Ian Vanderburg
Orange Police Department
Greggory Cates
Benjamin Gilchrist
Mario Perez
Eric Velazquez
Orange PD recruits Mario Perez, front right, Benjamin Gilchrist and Greggory Cates enter the auditorium for the start of the GWC police academy graduation ceremonies.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
An Orange PD recruit salutes during the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the GWC police academy graduation ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Orange PD Recruit Eric Velazquez, right, salutes during the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the GWC police academy graduation ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Placentia Police Department
Freddy Lemus
Tustin Police Department
Hector Frias
Ryan Newell
Zachary Swart
Tustin PD Recruit Hector Frias lines up before the start of the Golden West College Police Academy Class 153 graduation ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Tustin PD Recruit Zachary Swart receives his new badge from Tustin Police Chief Charles Celano during the GWC Police Academy class of 153 graduation ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
University of California Irvine
David Juarez
Duane Solomon Jr.
Westminster Police Department
Jonathan Bell
Christian Hernandez
Michael Wheeler
Westminster PD Recruit Jonathan Bell receives a handshake and his new badge from Westminster Police Chief Ralph Ornelas during the GWC Police Academy class of 153 graduation ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Award recipients from Class 153:
Academic Achievement: Matthew Meyer
Lifetime Fitness Award: Duane Solomon
Report writing: Eric Velázquez
Field problems: Matthew Meyer
Firearms proficiency: Zachary Holland
Honor Recruit: Matthew Meyer
Director’s Character Award (voted on by peers): Eric Velazquez
Ron Lowenberg, dean/director of the GWC Criminal Justice Training Center, presents the Director’s Award to Orange PD Recruit Eric Velazquez during the GWC Police Academy class of 153 graduation ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Orange PD Recruit Eric Velazquez, center, is presented the Director’s Award by Ron Lowenberg, dean/director of the GWC Criminal Justice Training Center, right, and Orange Police Chief Tom Kisela.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Golden West College Police Academy Class 153 graduation recruits take the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics oath at the conclusion of graduation ceremonies.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Golden West College Police Academy Class 153 graduation recruits congratulate each other at the conclusion of graduation ceremonies.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Representing the Huntington Beach Assistance League, Jean Hardy, left, and Marlene Ryan are honored and thanked by the members of class 153 for their “generous donation” during the GWC Police Academy graduation ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Members of class 153 gather on stage to thank the Huntington Beach Assistance League for their “generous donation.”
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
