Metropolitan Police Department: Chief Ramsey Welcomes 28 New Officers to the MPDC

This may seem like an unusually morbid topic to bring up on a day of such excitement and joy. But the fact is that danger is a part of our profession. This is no secret to any of you. You know the dangers involved, you have trained for them, you have been equipped to handle them, and now you are ready to face those dangers with strength and confidence and the support of your fellow officers.

We have many tributes to the fallen officers who have come before us: §The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, the Washington Area Law Enforcement Memorial fountain outside MPDC headquarters, the Wall of Honor at the Maurice T. Turner Jr., Insitute of Police Science, the online memorial we have established on the MPDC's website. All of these are important and appropriate acknowledgments of the many, many heroes of our Department and our profession. But the greatest tribute to these men and women is not found in marble or stone, or in a badge displayed behind glass or a remembrance posted in cyber-space. The greatest tribute to these men and women lies in police officers, who wake up every day and don the uniform and pin on the badge of our profession.

It lies in dedicated men and women who - without hesitation or fanfare - go out and tackle society's many complicated problems and go home knowing they have made their communities a little safer, a little stronger, for their efforts.

It lies in law enforcement professionals who - at a moment's notice, and usually without much warning - go where others simply fear to go. It lies in very special people who - fully aware of the dangers involved—rush head-first into situations that other people are fleeing, because that's their job - to serve and protect others.

In short, the greatest tribute to our fallen heroes lies within each and every one of us, in our commitment, our bravery, our selflessness, our ideals, our service.

I can truly think of no greater tribute to the 107 officers on our Department's Wall of Honor - or to the 15,000 officers inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial - than each and every one of us going out and doing our jobs, and doing them with courage and compassion, each and every day of our careers.

Let the legacy of our fallen colleagues be the difference that each of us makes in the communities we serve. There can be no greater tribute than that.

In closing, let me say once again to all of our new officers 'congratulations' and 'welcome.' You have proven that you have what it takes to be a member of this Department and this profession. You have demonstrated proficiency in all of the things we have asked you to do thus now. But now, the challenges become much greater and the stakes much, much higher.

Our residents are relying on you to help them build the type of safe and healthy communities that all of us would be proud of. The community itself has an important role to play in this process. And under 'Policing for Prevention' we are empowering the community to be a strong and active partner in fighting - and preventing - crime.

But remember that as police officers, you now play a unique role in neighborhood safety. This is a role that carries considerable risk and sacrifice, but also a role that give you the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of others. Seize that opportunity, this day and every day of your career.

Recognize the tremendous potential you have as a single police officer and as a member of this Department, and put that potential to work for our communities.

Thank you very much, and may God bless all of you."

Recruit Officers Sworn-In
Officer Jeffrey P. Ackerman	Officer Mike P. Hoban
Officer William C. Alton	Officer Isaac W. Jackson
Officer James P. Antonio	Officer Nathan M. Minor
Officer Mikal H. Ba'th	Officer Nichael A. Pitts
Officer Angelo L. Battle	Officer Adrian M. Saunders
Officer Clyde E. Beatty III	Officer Victor T. Scott
Officer John O. Bolden	Officer Terence W. Smith
Officer Joseph E. Conjura	Officer Kayode A. Sodimu
Officer Vernon D. Copeland	Officer Mark C. Steelman
Officer James A. Crisman	Officer Thomas J. Stein Jr.
Officer Matthew Dailey	Officer Wayne C. Steinhilber
Officer Ralph W. Davis	Officer Ralph Warren Jr.
Officer Robert C. Ferretti Jr.	Officer Brian P. Wise
Officer Patriece L. Groves Class (99-2)	Officer Wade C. Zach