Mark Schlachtenhaufen
EDMOND — Twenty weeks ago they were called cadets. Today they were called police officers.
Nine cadets graduated from the Edmond Police Department’s first self-instructed police academy Friday afternoon during a ceremony at the Multi-Activity Center in Mitch Park.
Graduates included the son of a former Edmond cop, a former Tulsa County sheriff’s deputy, the father of a 4-month-old son, a former infantryman who served in Afghanistan and a Marine who served during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Cadet Brad Griffin, 27, a former Oklahoma State University campus police officer, spoke on behalf of the class and thanked those who contributed to the moment, most notably academy leaders Sgt. Jeff Richardson and Officer Bryan Weathers.
“There have been many people who have given countless hours to train us, mentor us through this process, some sacrificing Friday nights with their families so they could be with us, train and making us better and ready for the streets,” Griffin said.
Griffin said he would begin his 14 weeks of field training at 7 a.m. Saturday morning, and said he was ready to begin. He said he and the other new officers hoped they would be with the department in 20 years to be role models for a future class.
Griffin’s father, Matt Griffin, was a member of the department from 1978 until 2003, when he retired as a sergeant. He said being a police officer is an honorable profession and he is glad his son will be serving Edmond.
“It’s a very proud moment,” he said. “I’m proud of him, proud of all of ’em.”
After the cadets entered the hall they recited their class credo in unison. Representatives from city government, the Legislature and the state law enforcement community were among those who were present, along with cadets’ family members.
Police Chaplain Jon Cook prayed for the new police officers.
“I pray for them as they hit the streets these next few days and enter field training,” Cook said. “I ask that you keep them safe ....”
Police Chief Bob Ricks thanked those who came to the MAC in support of the cadets who were beginning to serve and protect Edmond residents as police officers, the greatest profession one can enter, he said.
Today’s officers do more than enforce the peace, they are required to be a psychologist, a lawyer, a priest, a minister, a teacher, a mediator, Ricks said. Preparing the cadets for their job took the entire Police Department family and help from outside sources, he said.
State agencies including the state law enforcement licensing board, the city’s attorney’s office, the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office, the FBI, Immigration and Naturalization Services, the State Health Department and the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office were among the agencies that contributed to the training curriculum.
The cadets received 760 hours of training, and are certified in everything from Tasers to radar to firearms to tactical vehicle intervention.
“In other words, they’re ready to go,” Ricks said. “They are far better prepared than any other officers we’ve had at this stage of training entering into the Edmond Police Department.”
Ricks said they were mentally and physically challenged. They have been pepper-sprayed, gone through extensive defensive tactics, endured long runs.
During the academy, trainers used an approach of “crawl, walk, run” in which they started out simply and increased the responsibility to where they could run and truly understand under high stress what was expected of them, Ricks said.
“The way I look at what the overall mission, responsibility that we have here, I break it down principally into one word — that is service,” Ricks said.
The department’s motto is “Trustworthy Service” and the agency is all about serving Edmond residents who pay officers’ salaries and expect professional, courteous service, Ricks said. Ethics was an important part of the academy’s curriculum, he said.
“We want to teach the Edmond way,” Ricks said. “We have higher expectations in Edmond.”
The cadets were tested for their use of language under high stress, Ricks said. The department’s overriding culture is that officers will be “extremely nice” to residents until officers have to “switch gears.” Edmond residents want to be treated with dignity and respect, Ricks said.
Municipal Judge Alan Synar swore in the cadets, who then received their badge assignments from Ricks and Richardson.
marks@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 102
THE DETAILS
EDMOND’S NEWEST POLICE OFFICERS
The following is a summary of the nine new cadets who graduated Friday, earning spots as officers on the Edmond Police Department:
Branden Baxley, 28. Baxley was a University of Central Oklahoma campus police officer. He served in the National Guard and completed one tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Kyle Cunningham, 25, of Oklahoma City, worked for the Great Plains Correctional Facility as a recreation supervisor.
Joseph Delpha, 22, of Edmond. Delpha became a newlywed in June.
Brad Griffin, 27. Griffin was an Oklahoma State University campus police officer and is a Marine who served during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Mason Long, 22, of Bethel Acres. Long previously was employed at Tinker Federal Credit Union and is the father of a 4-month-old son.
Christopher James “C.J.” Nelson, 26. Nelson was a member of the Honolulu Police Department.
Dusty Phillips, 28, of Duncan. Phillips served as an Army military police officer for five years. He is married and has three children.
James “Matthew” Sheltman, 32, of Oklahoma City. Sheltman was an OSU campus police officer.
Jacob Wilmott, 27, of Tulsa. Wilmott was a Tulsa County sheriff’s deputy.
