The Buffalo Police Department has added 19 new recruits to its ranks. The recruits were sworn in by Mayor Byron Brown and Police Commissioner Daniel Derenda in an afternoon ceremony Friday. They will take part in a six month training program at the Police Academy.
The recruits will be assigned to field training officers once the program is complete. It will be roughly a year before they’re assigned their tasks, which may include foot patrol, bike patrol or vehicle patrol. Buffalo Police Commissioner Daniel Derenda says the rookies will eventually be a key part of reducing crime in the city.
“We’ve been very fortunate in the city of Buffalo with some initiatives that we’ve been able to reduce crime overall since 2005 by 24 percent. We continue to see a decrease this year. Getting these officers on the street, getting them out and visible. These officers will be part of that in the not to distant future,” said Derenda.
The department increased its ranks to replace some of the police officers that recently retired. Derenda says the newcomers bring a positive, ready to learn attitude, boosting the morale among city officers.
“There were several of these new recruits that have a family history of policing in the city of Buffalo. I think four are children, several have cousins. So, this is a very good day for the Buffalo Police Department,” said Derenda.
Derenda says it’s a good day when the department can add “fresh blood” to the police force. The recruits are expected to graduate in January 2015.
The police recruits inducted: Laura Beyers Ryan Crespo Luke Ganley Tiffany Garland Sean Godios Anquela Hunter Shawn McCabe Vivian McDaniels Courtney Moffett Christopher Orefice Lisa Perillo Lamar Reeves, Jr. Jennifer Stutz Dennis Taylor Adrienne Threats Omar Tirado Aaron Torgalski Brian Tripp Zachary Williams