Chief Armstrong: ‘I really do appreciate their sacrifice’; Mayor Schaaf: ‘I thank them for their dedication to public service’

By GEORGE KELLY | gkelly@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group

OAKLAND — The 186th Basic Recruit Academy graduated 25 officers in a ceremony Wednesday at the Scottish Rite Center.

Trainers, professional staff, instructors and recruiters joined other officers and family members to acknowledge the police department’s newest members, alongside Chief LeRonne Armstrong, who opened ceremonies with a formal inspection before later pinning badges.

“As someone born and raised in Oakland, I truly understand how important it is for the Oakland Police Department to strengthen our relationship with the community we serve,” Armstrong said. “When police departments under-invest in communities for many years, you must over-invest in the community in order to build trust.”

Chief LeRonne Armstrong presents Oakland Police Department’s 186th Basic Recruit Academy graduate Brandon Moss with his badge during a ceremony at the Scottish Rite Center in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021. Twenty-Five new Oakland Police Officers were sworn-in at the ceremony. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group) 

In later remarks, before disclosing the arrest of two suspects sought in connection with last month’s fatal shooting of a security guard and former police officer, Armstrong expanded on the officers’ expected impacts within and beyond the department.

“We have been in great need of additional officers. And today, to be able to graduate 25 officers, will really be helpful to this department. Our current number was at 669. So, these 25 officers will take us to 694. Again, obviously with the level of crime that we’ve seen in the city, these additional officers, I really do appreciate their sacrifice,” he said.

“I appreciate them all stepping up in this moment, and I look forward to seeing them out there serving the community. We also thank our city council for authorizing additional funding for two additional academies.”

Members of the Oakland Police Department’s 186th Basic Recruit Academy graduates wave to family members in attendance during a ceremony at the Scottish Rite Center in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021. Twenty-Five new Oakland Police Officers were sworn-in at the ceremony. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group) 

Although the police department is budgeted for 737 sworn positions, it has fallen far below that number, because officers have been resigning or retiring at a faster clip than expected, and fewer people have been enrolling in the academies. In an early October press conference, Armstrong said the department was then at 695 officers, but had received 10 resignation notices in that month’s first four days.

After an invocation by department chaplain Father Jayson Landeza, Armstrong joined Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, City Administrator Edward Reiskin and Police Commissioner Regina Jackson in congratulating the new officers.

“My heartfelt congratulations to the graduates of the 186th Oakland Police Academy. As officers, they will have the opportunity to make people feel safe, which is an incredible gift and an immense responsibility” Schaaf said in part. “These men and women have volunteered to join a department that’s nationally recognized for progressive, constitutional policing, and I thank them for their dedication to public service.”

According to a department spokesman, the graduate class has six women and 19 men, with four living in Oakland and several speaking multiple languages, including Cantonese, Spanish, Tagalog and Twi.

The new officers are as follows: Jorge Aguilar, Hakim Alaoui, Julia Alarcon, Isias Alcantar, Jacqueline Alvarez, Michael Armah, Irene Arzate, Cody Burman, Jordan Bustos, Harold Cajucom, Rafael Casares, Gregory Chen, Angelo Dentoni, Marlesha Everett, Jesse Hawes, Bryan Jimenez, John Kang, Bryce Lee, John Magana, Angel Marigny, Spencer Mikell, Brandon Moss (Valedictorian), Ruby Resendiz, Raul Rodriguez, and Alberto Vazquez.

Staff writers Annie Sciacca and Harry Harris contributed to this report. Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.