Four female and sixteen male Police Officers from the Baldwin Park, Culver City, El Monte, Gardena, Los Angeles School, Montebello and San Gabriel Police Departments; as well as the California Department of Insurance, Fraud Division; California Department of Motor Vehicles, Investigations Division; and California State Lottery, Security and Law Enforcement, graduated from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Training Academy in Whittier during ceremonies held on Thursday, Aug. 1,  at the Sheriff’s Training Academy and Regional Services (STARS) Center. Chief Steven Zipperman of the Los Angeles School Police Department delivered inspirational remarks to the graduates and their guests.

As part of the graduation, a badge-pinning ceremony was conducted, with the new Officers receiving their badges from a family member or loved one. After receiving their graduation certificates, the graduates were officially sworn in as peace officers by Sheriff Lee Baca.

In a special segment of the ceremony, Officer Nicholas Alexander Wells of the Culver City Police Department, a resident of Valencia, was named the Honor and Academic Recruit for Class #394. This award is given to the recruit who achieves the highest numerical average based upon leadership qualities, academics, marksmanship, and physical performance throughout the training period.