Amarillo celebrates the graduation of 101st Police Academy class
The Amarillo Police Academy celebrated the graduation of its 101st graduating class Thursday at the Amarillo Civic Center.
These seven new police officers were sworn in at the ceremony, and cadets and staff were honored for their dedication to service. Sean Rogers was named the top-ranking cadet, with Erik Young as the top marksman. Following the swearing in, officers had their badges pinned on by chosen family members.
Many top city officials, police officers, and families from across the city attended the ceremony.
Amarillo Police Chief Martin Birkenfeld spoke about the academy’s 101st graduating class.
“We are really proud of our new officers; they have worked hard to be here,” Birkenfeld said. “We know they have good hearts for serving our community. I also really appreciate all our instructors working diligently to prepare these cadets for service.”
Rogers, who was named the top cadet in his class with the highest scores of his graduating class, spoke about being honored and becoming an officer.
“It feels weird to reach this point. I still kind of feel like a kid,” Rogers said. “My family had more faith in my ability than I did coming into this.”
Rogers said that he had always thought about becoming an officer growing up. Staying motivated and being able to see the finish line, Rogers emphasized that it was the most challenging part of the training for him.
“I did not feel a ton of pressure, especially in the classroom, but going through some of the practical, real-world exercises, such as police scenarios, was something I was concerned about,” Rogers said. "But going through the practical, real-world stuff without a ton of experience, I was a little anxious about that. "
Isaiah Minnieweather, a Marine veteran, spoke about transitioning from the military to becoming a police officer.
“This is such an exciting moment; my training from the military was a benefit in making it through this academy,” Minnieweather said. “While there are some significant differences in how training applies in the police force compared to the military, many core principles remain the same. When I left the Marine Corps, I wanted to do something else to serve my community and country as a tip of the spear for the people."
With Amarillo having very few African American officers, Minnieweather said it feels good to represent the city and hopes it inspires others to serve it.
“It feels good; this lets me go out and help people no matter who they are and what they do,” Minnieweather added.
Amarillo Mayor Cole Stanley spoke to cadets at the ceremony, celebrating their sacrifices and hard work. Stanley said that the city constantly needs officers to serve and protect the community, and these new graduates bring hope and promise for the future.
"I am super excited to see these young men stepping up to serve the community. I am looking forward to seeing the next class graduate,” Stanley said. “We continue to gain ground with the law enforcement that we need out on the patrol path to keep us safe and have a healthy community."
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: 7 new officers graduate from 101st Amarillo Police Academy
