From the Harford County Sheriff’s Office:
[February 9, 2015, Bel Air, MD] On Tuesday February 3, 2015 Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler oversaw his first recruit class graduation as members of the ELC-25 Correctional Deputy Class graduated from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Training Academy. The seven recruits were honored in front of family, friends, and members of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office.
The two-hour ceremony started with family members pinning each graduate with their Sheriff’s Office badge and included speeches by Sheriff Gahler, the class valedictorian and Ms. Jane Sachs, Director of Correctional Training for the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions.
Sheriff Gahler praised the new recruits for their success in graduating from the academy and reminded them why they became deputies saying, “no matter what you brought here, you each have dreamed of making a difference in the community. You see yourselves as a solution to a problem. You each have a desire to help others in a time of need.”
Class valedictorian, Matthew Hoffman, echoed Sheriff Gahler’s sentiment saying, “Let us always remember that ‘with courage, honor and integrity, we protect the rights and dignity of all citizens. In partnership with our communities, we strive to preserve the peace and provide for a safe environment for all.’ Let’s make them as proud of us, as we are in ourselves, and remember each day to uphold the values of this great law enforcement agency.”
Also during the ceremony, three recruits were recognized for their overall excellence during the academy. Deputy Matthew Hoffman earned the distinction of being class valedictorian with the highest overall grades throughout the 10-week academy. Deputy Christopher Parra earned the honor of being the top shot of the class. Finally, the recruits selected Deputy Leonard Petrovich III to attach the class guide-on to the Academy flag. This honor goes to the recruit classmates saw the most improvement during the academy.
The seven recruits to graduate from the Academy are Deputies:
–Andrew Bailone
–Matthew Hoffman
–Laura Jerousek
–Matthew Norton
–Christopher Parra
–Leonard Petrovich III
–Diana Phillips
The Harford County Sheriff’s Office welcomes these fine young men and women to our ranks and looks forward to watching them develop their careers in the years to come.
Great job. Just remember that you are part of a great organization. The sheriff supports the DC and the wardenis a stand up guy.
Congratulations to all of the recent graduates. You are taking on a very difficult task that will try your patience and test your learned skills each and every day. Best of luck to all of you as you begin your careers with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office.
Why does Harford need its own academy? Couldn’t we save money by piggy-backing on another county’s?
That would never happen, Harford County likes to do things their way. Giving up control of recruits to another county would not fit with the way the Sheriffs Dept. operates.
Can we piggy back you to another county? We can spare idiots like you.
“The Harford County Sheriff’s Office welcomes these fine young men and women…….”
Hey, better be careful with using the word young. It betrays the department’s bias against older applicants.
Not even a token black or Hispanic in these fine graduation class! So much for affirmative action…
Actually, one of the females is Hispanic. Sorry to burst your bubble.
Not even a token black or Hispanic in these fine graduation class! So much for affirmative action…meant to write Frucs..
No wheelchair-bound people, either.
Guess if wheelchair bound, blind or deaf they would have been white as well!!
An interesting comment DJ. I believe all of the new Correctional Officers were actually hired during the last part of the Bane administration, and only recently graduated from the Academy during the first part of the Gahler administration.
That’s not racism, its called Geographical Discrimination…..
They were hired by the sheriff’s office. Doesn’t matter which party.
They were hired by an individual (the Sheriff) not by a party.
The female on the right is Hispanic. And there is a Black male in the current law enforcement class.
It amazes me how many people say why isn’t there any Blacks or Hispanics in the graduating class or a individual unit. How do you know that they weren’t in the class but couldn’t pass everything? Why does it always have to be a f-ing racial argument with people. You honestly think the police department and fire departments make it a habit not to hire black people? Maybe none applied. Police need all the help they can get.