A total of 86 polished recruits lined up in company formation Friday morning awaiting final inspection before their formal changeover from recruits to California peace officers during their graduation ceremony.

Academy Class No. 415, which is made up of 63 male and 16 female deputy sheriffs; and 5 male and 2 female police officers from El Segundo, Inglewood, Los Angeles School and Montebello Police Departments, graduated from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Biscailuz Center Training Academy in Los Angeles during ceremonies held Friday.

Mr. Alan J. Skobin, Vice President and General Counsel of Galpin Motors, Incorporated — and a Reserve Deputy Sheriff– delivered inspirational remarks to the graduates and their guests. After receiving their California Peace Officer and Standard Training (P.O.S.T.) Certificates, the graduates were officially sworn in as California peace officers by Sheriff Jim McDonnell.

In a special segment of the ceremony Blake Lea Runge, of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, was named Honor Recruit.  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.  Steve Edward Erickson, of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, was named Academic Recruit for graduating with the highest academic scores.

Each class of recruits processed through the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Biscailuz Center Training Academy brings together a collection of unique aspects, qualities and experiences.  One example of such is that out of the 86 graduating recruits from Academy Class #415, 34 speak a language other than English.  They speak Spanish, Urdu, Hindi and Vietnamese.

In addition to the social enrichment and mindfulness, 11 recruits bring to LASD from their life experiences of living abroad; 30 recruits carry with them substantial education with Bachelor’s degrees and higher learning in: Sociology, Criminal Justice, Business Administration, Communications, Kinesiology, History, Criminology, Health Care Administration, Film, Geography, Animation and Graphic Design, Justice Systems Leadership, Psychology, Public Administration and Social Work; 13 recruits served in the military; 14 have previous experience in law enforcement and 36 have family members in law enforcement.