Long-standing tradition was carried out in a new place Tuesday when Recruit Class 181 became the first class to graduate from the new Orange County Sheriff’s Department Regional Training Academy on the grounds of the former Tustin Marine Air Station.   

The class was made up of 29 men and six women, 23 new Orange County deputy sheriffs and 12 who will go to outside law enforcement agencies. 

 A bugler sounded the call to attention and drums rolled as the new law enforcement officers marched sharply into the hall to graduate and take the oath of sworn officers.  More than 1000 family members, colleagues and well-wishers attended the ceremony.   

Sheriff’s Lt. Mark Billings, the academy commander, gave a brief synopsis of what the recruits had faced.  The graduates began their training at the department’s old facility in Garden Grove. The class reported for duty on June 4. 

“They then came over for 24 weeks of training at this academy, the most modern in the state and perhaps beyond,” said Billings. He noted that the graduates had been given about 984 hours of training, about 300 more than required by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards & Training. The extra hours included instruction in cultural diversity, laws of arrest, use of force, crisis intervention, firearms, first aid/CPR, search and seizure, crimes against children, baton training, community relations, domestic disputes, communicating with disabled persons, report writing and physical training. Some portions of this added instruction involved role-playing and scenario training.

Billings beamed with pride when he recounted some of the charitable works the class had managed on their own time after a grueling day of training.  They donated approximately 1,540 hours and raised $3,500 to benefit crime survivors, the families of fallen peace officers, the county’s low income families and victims of lupus and cancer. They donated 35 pints of blood, which the American Red Cross reports can save over 100 lives. 

Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Sarno, class president, said the program had been tough, so tough many of the recruits were tempted to quit. 

 “For the last 26 weeks we have written about and been tested on, pushed and pulled, ran and marched, mountain climbed and squat thrust our way to this very moment,” said Sarno, a former Navy petty officer and combat veteran. “I look at my class and I see 34 of the most motivated and dedicated people whom I have ever known. Together we stuck it out, we weathered the storm.” 

Despite the challenge, he said, those being sworn on Tuesday were there for one reason. 

“We earned it.” 

 He gave a special thanks to the academy’s tactical staff, the trainers who wear gold braid on their shoulders and Marine Corps drill instructor style hats. They can bark and they can “bite”, or offer a shoulder for comfort when one is needed.

“In your shear relentlessness, you have driven us to develop the necessary tools to evolve into upstanding and honorable law enforcement professionals. Intensity, integrity, initiative: the things that leaders are made of,” Sarno said.

As much credit as he gave the tactical staff for the class’s success, he offered even more to the families of the recruits.

“The reason we can’t give up, all comes down to a look. Some may not be familiar. Simply put, it’s a look that says: ‘I believe in you and I am proud of what you are doing.’”

The keynote speaker was Brigadier General James P. Combs, commander of the Joint Forces Training Base at Los Alamitos. He recently retired after 40-years in the service, including a tour as an enlisted soldier in Vietnam, command of the California National Guard and the 40th Infantry Division.

He served much of his career with military police units and he commanded thousands of military police officers in Baghdad in 2004 and 2005.

Combs spoke about how serving in Iraq taught him to appreciate more than ever the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law.  The rule of law is generally assumed in our country but in Iraq it is a goal they are trying to achieve.

“You in fact are the face of this constitution to the public. Your actions will tell the public if you are bound by the same laws you are sworn to uphold,” the retired general told the graduating recruits. “You are our defenders against hate, conflict, lawless behavior, anarchy, death and destruction.   You      are America’s instruments of light and life as you live your oath and behave consistent with the code of ethics.”

Combs added, “What you do here tonight is of immense importance to our country and our state. Maybe, because of your efforts, our daughters and sons will walk more safely, our next generation will be more secure, our homes will be sanctuaries and not prisons and our children will inherit a future that includes good friends rather than gang activity.”

Awards were given to some of the top graduates and the firearms proficiency honor went to Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Joseph A. Harper. The recruits had each fired about 5,000 rounds during their training.

Assistant Sheriff Dan Martini administered the oath to the new law enforcement officers, reminding them that General Combs expected them to state their oath with as much meaning and enthusiasm as their character could muster.

They did.

Undersheriff Jo Ann Galisky presented the award to Harper and later she presented each of the 23 new deputies with their badges. The badges were pinned on by loved ones of their choosing. Harper selected his parents; Stanton based Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Cataline and his wife Stephanie. The couple stepped up to the platform a second time during the ceremony to pin the deputy badge on a second recruit: daughter Jaclyn Cataline.     

“We have eight children and these are the first two to become deputies,” Cataline said later. “Three more want to follow.” He added with pride that Jaclyn is a contender for a spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic wrestling team. 

In one of the final acts of the ceremony, Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Canales, Class 181’s guidon bearer, stood before the assembly with the guidon. It is a flag that had been designed and made by the class members and adorned with ribbons from honors earned by the class during their training. It was presented to the academy.      

Billings said it will be displayed along with the guidons from 180 companies that were trained before the facility was opened. They will be mounted on a wall in the new facility that will be dedicated to the class guidons.  The 53,000 square foot complex, situated on 15 acres, was dedicated on September 11, after two years of work under the direction of Assistant Sheriff Dan Martini and Training Division Captain Catherine Zurn. 

The newest Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies are, Joseph D. Blackston, Robert E.B. Canales, Jaclyn C. Cataline, William J. Curry, Timothy L. Danaher, Keith P. Fowler, Nicole P. Freeman, Elton O. Gardener, Thanh T. Ha, Joseph A. Harper, Christopher M. Hodel, James S. Johnson, Heather L. Killion, Jamie L. Laribee, Ana E. Macedo, Jesus C. Maldonado, Roberto L. Miranda, Joseph E. Mirander, David K. Park, Andre P. Raglin, Michael W. Sarno, Duy X. Tran and Maria Vega.

Other graduates were from the following departments, Alhambra, 1, Anaheim, 2, Bell Gardens, 1, Costa Mesa, 2, Downey, 1, Manhattan Beach, 1, Newport Beach, 1, Santa Ana, 1, and Santa Monica, 2.