Sheriff's Special Officer Class 36 graduated Tuesday night and 18 new law enforcement officers were sworn in for duty with a wide range of responsibilities throughout the Department.
"They have become a significant and important force for the Department,” Sgt. Jim McLain told the hundreds of family, friends and colleagues gathered to celebrate the peace officers. The class successfully completed 580 hours of training that included arrest tactics, firearms training, academic, physical fitness and even terrorism response. The 18 graduates started 15 weeks ago in a class of 36. The 18 made it through the stress and discipline regime of the program.
The new peace officers will be given assignments in virtually all of the Department’s jails and court facilities staffed by the Department. Some will go to the Security and Transportation Bureaus or John Wayne Airport Police Services.
Special Officer Oliver Didio said the class is the first to graduate under a new curriculum that puts less emphasis on corrections and more on general duties that many of the Special Officers will be called on to perform. Those assigned to the jails will return to the academy for a two-week training course on working in Corrections. Those assigned to John Wayne Airport will be given a one-week course by the FAA.
Class Sergeant Eric Madrigal told the audience they started Oct. 22, known in the class as Black Monday.
“We were challenged mentally and physically, right from the very first day,” Special Officer Madrigal said. “I deeply value what I developed with my classmates. We started with 36 and 18 are graduating today. Trust me, it was an uphill battle most of the time but we didn’t face it alone. We grew closer as time went on.”
Special Officer Madrigal, a former Marine, said he would be confident going into battle with his Class 36 classmates.
“We’re in service to the county and we’ll always be there if someone is in need,” he said. He thanked Acting Sheriff Jack Anderson, Capt. Catherine Zurn, and their training staff; Sgt. McLain and Deputy Joseph J. Langhorne and Sheriff’s Special Officer Didio.
Class 36 Terrorism Decontamination Training
Virtually all said they aspire to be Deputies. In Basic Academy Class 182, which graduated Monday, 5 of the 24 graduating Deputies came from the ranks of the more than 350 Sheriff’s Special Officers.
Acting Sheriff Anderson told the group that he was impressed by the class and he remarked on the different assignments they will be given.
“All those positions afford you the opportunity to protect and to serve the people who come to those facilities,” he said. “I wish you all the best in your career at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. “
He then introduced Bobby McDonald, President and Executive Director of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Orange County.
Mr. McDonald told the class that he has been involved in the Department’s Community Coalition since 1999 and has toured most of the Department’s facilities.
“The group has taken major steps to help improve community relations and foster strong community ties,” he said. “The coalition was formed to help the law enforcement community better understand about the community. “
He noted many of the new programs undertaken by the Department and concluded in his remarks.
“Your class motto is ‘We Will Stand With Honor, Adversity Makes Us Stronger.’ The 18 of you standing here with honor are about to become a focal point in an age of change.
Those who graduated were: Richard Baeza, Rodney Cash, Jacquelynn Cojocnean, Mario Felix, Hung Lang, Eddie Lemus, Eric Madrigal, Anthony Nunez, Luis Perez III, Robert Pribnow, William Ramirez, Steven Rust, Erik Tilove, Nelson Torres, Khoi Tran, Nicole Vargas, Daniel Wolfe, Jason Yates.