Recruit Profiles
Class 332: Platoon B
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Profiles
Michelle Dennard-Sherard
Michelle Dennard-Sherard gets along with everyone because of her concern for their well being and her willingness to assist anyone who needs help.
Before entering the Police Academy, she had a successful career working with people with disabilities. Most recently she was supervisor of a program for people dually diagnosed with mental health or mental retardation and sexual disorders. She taught school for 11 years, teaching children with disabilities and homeless children and families.
Her goal in the police department is to become a detective and work with sex crimes or crimes involving children and women.
Michelle was born in Rochester, New York, 36 years ago, but raised in Philadelphia. She likes to spend time with her husband and two children, reading, watching TV (Homicide and Cops) and videos (Full Metal Jacket, Alien, and Heartbreak Ridge) and listening to all types of music from her huge collection of CD's. She also plays 2nd base and shortstop on her softball team and likes to draw, do air brushing and crocheting.
Although Pepper, as she is known to her family and friend, was surprised to be chosen assistant to the platoon assistant, she seems to be the perfect choice. She believes you should treat everyone as you want to be treated. "Always remember," she says, "what you see in someone else, either positive or negative, good or bad, could be you at any given time in life."
.:BACK TO TOP:.Chauncey Ellison
Chauncey Ellison has a college degree in accounting and was working as a credit assistant for a local bank when he joined the force.
Nicknamed Chico by his friends while growing up in Philadelphia, he lives with his wife and two children not far from where he was born 27 years ago.
In addition to spending time with his family, Chauncey likes to lift weights and do research on his personal interests. He also is an active participant in his Masonic organization.
When asked his philosophy of life, Chauncey said, "I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me."
.:BACK TO TOP:.Matthew Funk
There are no surprises when dealing with Matthew Funk, "What you see is what you get," he says. Everything about him seems direct and clear. His nickname is Funk. His goal in law enforcement is just "to be a good cop."
After graduating from college, Funk joined the Marines. He lived in California for three years and spent a year in Japan. He says he missed Philadelphia during those years away from home and now plans to spend the rest of his life here.
Mat is a big sports fan. His favorite TV show is Sportcenter and his favorite movie is Rocky. See a pattern here? He not only likes to play sports, he likes to watch sports on TV.
26 year old Funk tries not to take anything too serious. That may be why he suggested Samuel Jackson would be the right actor to play him in the Hollywood movie about Class 332. He also thinks it's really funny to see someone get told how to do something five times and still do it wrong. You're not talking about anyone in your platoon are you, Funk?
.:BACK TO TOP:.Rahim Henderson
"A lot of people say one man can't make a difference", says Rahim Henderson, "but I'm going to try." Upset that his North Philadelphia neighborhood has been dragged down by drugs, he hopes to work in narcotics and help clean up his community.
Rahim approaches everything he does with that same ambitious, positive attitude. "Strive to do your best, and you won't be disappointed", he told us. Eventually he would like to become a U.S. Marshall so he can do more traveling.
Playing football and basketball are favorite leisure activities for this 23 year-old recruit. He also likes to relax by going to the movies like "In Too Deep." Before joinging the department, Rahim had served in the Army. After his discharge he worked as a Corrections Officer at Graterford Prison.
Rahim's dream is to see his picture hanging in the lobby of the Police Academy. When new recruits arrive, the instructors would point to his picture and say that Rahim Henderson was the best recruit the city every had.
.:BACK TO TOP:.Alphonso Jett
When you look into Jett's eyes you are struck by two things. First, his eyes are green. They aren't contacts, but they are definitely green. And secondly, this is a guy who likes to have fun. He's 26 years old and single, so why not.
Whether it's playing basketball, lifting weights, or keeping the other recruits laughing, his motto is "go with the flow!" Maybe that's why for him the two-area failure rule is the scariest thing at the Police Academy. For an easy-going guy, it doesn't leave much slack.
Fonz (with a "z", please) worked at a pizza shop before he started at the College. Born and raised in Southwest Philadelphia, his goal is to enforce the law well.
.:BACK TO TOP:.Pamela Johncola
"P.J." had already spent years with the Philadelphia Police Department before she started her training at the Academy. As clerk-typist for the Firearms Identification Unit she worked with reports about all kinds of guns and bullets.
Five and a half years working 4pm to 12am sounds like a tough schedule for a 34 year-old, married woman with four children, but Pam's attitude is to "keep on smiling. Life only gets better." Since she loves to shop, maybe working nights and having her days free wasn't so bad.
It couldn't have been nearly as bad as her first day at the Academy when she was spotted by Sergeant Judge. He made an example of her for smiling at the wrong time. A difficult experience for someone who is quiet until you get to know her.
When you do get to know her, there is another side to P.J. She says she really likes to have fun and after a few cocktails she thinks she can sing like Cher or Whitney Houston. Maybe we'll find out at the graduation party!
.:BACK TO TOP:.Allen Karch
Allen Karch doesn't seem to fit the profile of a police officer. No one in his family is a cop. He never served in the military, and he is the lead singer in a rock and roll band.
He is 33 and the married father of two, but when he cut his hair to comply with department regulations he suddenly looked ten years younger.
Before beginning his studies at the College, Al had an unusual job. He rode shotgun on the nightly SEPTA "Money Train" that picks up the cash receipts from Philadelphia's subway stations.
Why would a guy who likes to surf, play the piano, and act in Summer Stock Theater also want to be a cop. "We're just passing through", Karch said. "So I try to enjoy it, and seize the moment."
UPDATE 2006: After a couple of years with Philly PD, Al resigned to become a Trooper with the Pennsylvania State Police.
.:BACK TO TOP:.Dion Kinard
At 6' 4" and 255 pounds, it's no wonder that Dion Kinard's nickname is High Tower. But he is not just big, he is a excellent athlete. In high school he was named to the All-Public League and All-Southeast Pennsylvania football teams.
After graduation he went to Temple University where he played three years as a defensive tackle. Kinard still enjoys sports and weight lifting and at 26, the big man can still move and play tough defense. Ask any of the recruits who try to drive to the basket guarded by High Tower during an after-class basketball game.
Before entering the Police Academy, Dion worked as a security guard. His biggest surprise at the Academy has been discovering that all the rules and regulations are really enforced. He seems to have adjusted well. When asked what was the most surprising thing about him, he said with a smile, "I'm becoming more responsible."
Kinard could easily be mistaken for Hollywood star Laurence Fishburne, and his approach to life follows the same simple script that brought him success in sports: "Just do it," he says.
.:BACK TO TOP:.Hasan Long
Most new recruits hope to make Detective or Sergeant at some point in their careers, but not Hasan Long. His goal is to move up through the ranks and become Police Commissioner! Why not; at 23, he has already seen many things that many older adults can't imagine.
As a Correctional Officer in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, he worked with prisoners who were twice his age. At the age of 20, he was already dealing with grown men who could be crying one day and violent the next day.
Long likes to spend time with his brother and his daughter and girlfriend. He is also into playing all kinds of games and sports - bowling, swimming, biking, football, baseball and video games. He was a trumpet player and has enough style on the basketball court that some friends call him "Haskeem."
He says that he has met some really cool people at the Police Academy and if Hollywood ever does a movie about the College he knows just the character he would like to play. He would be the funny little guy that weighed only 152 pounds but has the heart of a lion. It's a part that Hasan plays well.
UPDATE 2006: Hasan was shot and killed while off duty. Thousands of family and friends attended the funeral of this gentle officer who was loved and admired by everyone who knew him.
.:BACK TO TOP:.Joseph Luce
A union carpenter, a prize-winning fisherman, father of two, and an excellent cook, Joe Luce might just be the Renaissance Man of Platoon B.
Joe was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, and raised in Philadelphia and loves to go hunting and fishing in up-state Pennsylvania. He has won some significant prize money for his fishing skills including one event held on the Delaware River not far from the Police Academy.
When he is not fishing for bass or hunting for dear or bear, Luce can be found at home cooking for his wife and kids. He cooks dinner every night - lasagna is one of his specialties. He's also an avid reader and a history buff who likes to watch the History Channel.
"I have a lot of arcane knowledge that will probably never get used," he says.
An outgoing guy who considered going into politics, he thinks the funniest thing at the Academy is "the way people really are as compared to their demeanor in class." Of course you never can tell what he is really thinking. He suggests people should smile a lot so that "the rest of the world will think you're crazy."
.:BACK TO TOP:.Catherine McCallion
Cops often think of other officers as family. For Recruit Officer Catherine McCallion this is not just an expression of solidarity, it is a fact of life. Her father worked Highway Patrol and four of his brothers were members of the Philadelphia Police Department. According to Catherine, five brothers on the job at the same time is a department record.
Family is a major focus of McCallion's life. When she was growing up in South Philadelphia she was the baby of the family and thus acquired the nickname, Cass-a-Babe. Now, at 33, she is married and has two children of her own.
Before joining the Department, she not only raised two kids, she worked in her uncle's pizza parlor. In her spare time Catherine likes to draw and spend time with her children.
McCallion's goal is to become a Homicide Detective, although her first investigative interview at the Police Academy was not a great success. "I went to Inspector Melendez (Executive Officer at the Academy) and asked him about the directives that I had lent to him the previous day," she said. "He didn't know what I was talking about because," she soon realized, "I had lent them to Lieutenant Syed (who is in Testing and Scheduling)!"
.:BACK TO TOP:.Robert McCarthy
Profile to be added as soon as information is available.
.:BACK TO TOP:.Joseph McCay
Profile to be added as soon as information is available.
.:BACK TO TOP:.Haydee Mendez
"You have to be patient when dealing with the public," says Haydee Mendez. She wasn't always a patient person, but nine years as a pharmacy technician at Rite Aide and other companies has taught her how to serve all kinds of people. She is sure that it is an attribute that will serve her well in her new profession.
Mendez was born in Philadelphia 27 years ago and has lived in Puerto Rico and in Philadelphia at various times. She has three children, but still finds time for her hobby of making and decorating ceramics. Before joining the police department she often sold her ceramics to shops. Now between studying and her children she doesn't have time for commercial production, but she still makes a few painted ceramic items to give as gifts.
Haydee gets a kick out of the marching and singing with her platoon at the Academy, but she hasn't forgotten how scared she was on her first day. On the other hand, she has been pleasantly surprised by the good scores she has achieved on all of her tests.
"Always treat another person as if you where in their position," says Mendez. Patience and respect for other, sounds like a good approach to police work.
.:BACK TO TOP:.Israel Miranda
Making our communities safer for children is Israel Miranda's goal as a Police Officer. He also would like to help develop a closer relationship between the department and the public.
At 36, Miranda is in the middle of the age range of Class 332. For many years before he joined the department he worked as an Emergency Medical Technician. It is a job he really enjoyed. He thinks his EMT experience and training will be useful in his new career and, if possible, he would like to continue his education in emergency medicine while working as a cop.
It is no surprise that two of his favorite television shows are Code 3 and Third Watch. Papo (that's what his sister calls him) also likes to play with his two children. Other favorite activities include singing and just "driving around."
.:BACK TO TOP:.Najihma Morris
As the manager of the Duty Free Shop at Philadelphia International Airport, Najihma Morris not only got to meet many people, she met a lot of famous people. Be sure to ask her to name a few of them next time you see her.
Morris's two daughters, Niya and Naje, are the center of her world. She also likes go out on weekends with her friends or fiancée, Kyle. Shopping at the mall is also high on her list because "I always have to look good!"
Najihma got her nickname because her brother couldn't pronounce her Arabic name. He decided it was cute and easier to just call her Cocoa.
Morris says she was so scared during her first day at the Police Academy that she would have quit except that she was afraid to tell anyone that she was quitting. Now she understands that learning discipline is the first step in a successful police career. Cocoa is planning to graduate with honors from the Academy and plans to take the Detective exam as soon as possible.
.:BACK TO TOP:.Nadirah Muhammad
She received a BA Degree in Criminal Justice from Temple University. Her best friend is a Philadelphia Police officer. But Recruit Officer Muhammad came to the Police Academy on Day One without a pen or a notebook. "I got in trouble the first day," she says, "but I learned my lesson."
Nadirah had considered going to law school before she was accepted into the Department during her senior year at Temple. She is also interested in the work done by the federal Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Whatever career path she follows, she is sure to succeed because she doesn't get discouraged. She doesn't quit. "Whatever I set myself to do, I do," she says.
At 23 Muhammad already has had four years of experience as an assistant manager at a clothing store. She likes to play basketball and go skating, but her favorite spare time activity is shopping. Her goal in law enforcement is that "everyone should feel safe" knowing that she is out there.
.:BACK TO TOP:.Michael Munroe
Profile to be added as soon as information is available.
.:BACK TO TOP:.Donald Murdoch
When his kindergarten teacher asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up, six year old Donald said he wanted to be a police officer or a truck driver. At the age of 29 he was finally accepted into the Police Academy after driving a concrete mixer for most of his adult life.
Born and raised in the Olney section of Philadelphia Murdoch is the father of one son. Since 1994 he has been very active in coaching and organizing youth sports. He was the coach of the Olney Eagles football team and was at one time in charge of running the league organization.
An avid sports fan, Murdoch enjoys playing many sports, riding mountain bikes and lifting weights. He likes action films and the TV show "Cops."
Murdoch's goal in law enforcement is simply to be "the best enforcement officer I can be, and then go from there."
.:BACK TO TOP:.Joseph Negler
For Recruit Officer Joseph J. Negler Jr., the Police Department is truly family. His wife and daughter are both Detectives in the East Division. His son-in-law is a bike cop in the 26th District and his son is on the job in the 25th District.
"Coach" has spent most of his working life around cops. Before starting at the Police Academy, he spent 19 years working for the city, six years in police radio and thirteen years with the police tow squad. "In my last job," the former tow squad supervisor said, "I was the boss. Now I'm just one of many." Before his first day of training he had to cut his long hair and take off the gold jewelry he likes to wear. It's the shortest his hair has been in 25 years.
Negler has five children, and at 42, already has four and a half grandchildren - four with one more on the way. He plays goalie for the police soccer team and likes to try cigars from around the world. He also likes to do small electrical and plumbing jobs for his family and friends, skills he acquired years ago before he began working for the city.
"Negy's" approach to his new career is simple. "Treat others the way you want to be treated. It's common sense, use your "noodle." His goals are equally pragmatic: "enjoy myself, meet people, and retire in one piece."
.:BACK TO TOP:.Confesor Nieves
He dreamed of becoming a policeman when he was a child, but as a young man with a new wife and family he had to put aside his dream and take a job with Peco Energy. Twenty years later while helping his son apply to the department he was surprised to discover that there was no upper age limit for recruits. At 44, he could finally make his dream come true.
"I could have been in the same class at the Police Academy as my son," he said smiling. That seemed a little awkward to him, so he put his dream on hold for a few more months. His son will be the first cop in the family, but Confesor will be right behind him in Class 332.
"Fes" has no regrets about his years with Peco. He had a very successful career. By the time he left he was in charge of all wireless communication equipment (cell phones, pagers and 2-way radios) for the entire company and external contractors.
Nieves says he can get mean at times, but what his fellow recruits notice is that he has a talent for making people laugh. "People are constantly telling me that I should do stand-up comedy, so in their eyes I must have the ability to make people laugh."
As a child, Confesor was in awe of officers of the Highway Patrol. He still feels the same way today. After many years of waiting, he knows exactly what he wants to do in his new job.
UPDATE 2006: Officer Nieves received national recognition when he arrested one of "America's 10 Most Wanted." While on patrol in downtown Philadelphia, Fez spotted a fugitive who had been profiled on the popular TV show the night before. Nieves was able to arrest the individual and remove one of the nation's most notorious criminals from the streets of Philadelphia. Officer Nieves patrols the city as a "Bike Cop" in the Center City District and teaches bike policing techniques at the Police the Police Academy.
.:BACK TO TOP:.Kevin Ogara
Profile to be added as soon as information is available.
.:BACK TO TOP:.Steven Pagano
Recruit Officer Pagano has an unusual talent. "I talk well with everyone", he says. "I can have a conversation with someone I don't even know, and they will think they've known me forever."
Steve is a member of the Quaker City String Band. His father is a musician and it was the older Pagano's ability to play a musical instrument that led to Steve's nickname, Neen. "My father's friends called him "Hounini" because he could play an instrument even though he doesn't read music." The nickname eventually became shortened to Neen and when Steve and his brother were born they became the Neens.
Pagano's easy going style is similar to Kevin James on the TV show "King of Queens". "He takes life experiences as they come and doesn't get frustrated to easily", says the 26 year-old recruit. Steve and his wife, Andrea, have two daughters, Gianna and Julia. The youngest child was born two months after Pagano entered the Police Academy. Prior to beginning training, he worked as a route salesman for Snyder's Pretzels.
Neen may be easy going in his personal life, but his approach to the job is totally professional. "Always pay close attention to your actions", he says. "You are remembered for your bad actions just as much as your good ones."
.:BACK TO TOP:.Rashad Payne
If you have faith in yourself you can reach the sky says Recruit Officer Rashad Payne. According to the Holy Scriptures, you can do nothing without faith.
A devout individual, Payne spends his free time in prayer or with his wife and four children. Before joining the Police Department, he was employed at the Carson Valley School for delinquent youth as a Residential Counselor.
Raj got his nickname from his grandmother while growing up in North Philadelphia. 23 years old, he is a very outgoing and friendly. His goal is to become one of the best officers that the Philadelphia PD has ever had.
.:BACK TO TOP:.April Pierce
As police work becomes increasingly dependent on computers and technology, Recruit Officer April Pierce will be more and more valuable to the department. She has a Bachelors Degree in Information Systems and says, "I love helping people solve their computer problems."
Pierce worked at Thomas Jefferson Hospital doing computer training before starting her career with the Philadelphia Police. Her goal is to become detective and ultimately to achieve the rank of lieutenant.
April is 31 and the mother of one son. She likes to spend her spare time with her boy and reading. She says most people don't realize that she is a shy person because she is so opinionated and speaks her mind.
Pierce says, however, that she has to push her self to speak up. "I remind myself that everyone puts his or her pants on one leg at a time so there is no reason to be scared to speak.
.:BACK TO TOP:.Pablo Polanco
Saving lives and maintaining control of a situation is nothing new for Recruit Officer Pablo Polanco. Before he joined the department he worked as a correctional officer in Philadelphia and prior to that he was a lifeguard in Coney Island, New York.
Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Polanco is 31 and married. Running, swimming and riding a motorcycle are his favorite leisure activities. He would like to combine his personal and professional interests by riding a motorcycle for the department.
Polo has learned a lot during his months at the Police Academy. At first he thought that the first day when the staff was yelling at the new recruits was very scary. Now he looks back and finds it funny.
Polanco always gives 100% to anything he does. "If you are going to play the game," he says, "play hard and to your fullest."
.:BACK TO TOP:.Susan Pollick
Susie loves excitement and challenges. During her teens she was a dancer and occasional MC for a nationally televised dance show. She later became a manager for Rite Aid spending much of her time traveling throughout the country training people when the company acquired smaller drug store chains.
Her work took her to Seattle, California, Texas and New Orleans. (Ask her how she got so many strands of beads on Bourbon Street.) She was in Birmingham during the killer tornado of April, 1998. She worked alongside the Red Cross and other volunteers distributing food and water to the victims of the tragedy. Her most vivid recollection was going inside a church that was completely destroyed and finding a bible that was not damaged. Shortly afterwards, two young children were found alive in the basement of the church. This miracle made her realize that she wanted her life to take a different direction. The Police Department will certainly provide the excitement and challenges she thrives on.
In addition to being the world's greatest wrestling fan, Susie also loves animals. The proud owner of a Quaterhorse, she spends her free time trail riding. Eventually she would like to become a member of the mounted police. Right now her biggest challenge is to pass the academic tests and graduate so that she can continue the work that her brother, Christopher started. Officer Christopher Pollick died of injuries sustained in an traffic accident while on duty in 1997. "I know my big brother is watching over me," Susie said, "that's what keeps me determined not to give up.
.:BACK TO TOP:.Vicente Ramirez
At 23, Recruit Officer Vicente Ramirez had reached his goal of becoming a sergeant in the U.S. Army. He decided to leave Fort Stewart, Georgia, where he had been stationed for five years, and return to Philadelphia to pursue his dream of becoming a police officer. Born in the Bronx, New York, but raised in Philadelphia, Vicente wanted to serve his city and give back to the community.
Since starting at the Police Academy, Ramirez says he has met some very interesting people and made at least one life-long friend. His goal is to make lieutenant and give his two boys, Vicente Jr. and Marcus Juan, a better life than he had while growing up. In his spare time he likes to be with his boys or go running.
Vicente believes you should always reach for the next goal. "When my career is completed", he says, "I hope to have made a difference in my boys' lives as well as in this community."
.:BACK TO TOP:.Felix Reyes
Recruit Officer Felix Reyes probably speaks for all his fellow recruits when he says enthusiastically, "Being in the Police Academy is an experience I'll never forget!" Becoming a police officer was his goal for many years. Now he says to others who may be thinking about it, "If you have the desire and determination to become a cop, do it."
"I have learned a lot things at the Academy like how to communicate with people of different backgrounds and personalities." Law has become his favorite subject and his goal is to become a detective.
Reyes must have known a thing or two about how to communicate before he came to the Academy. He had a successful career in sales for Pepsi where he was one of the top salesmen in Northeast Philadelphia. A man of many talents, he is also musician, playing percussion for Latin music, and a great Salsa dancer.
Felix says he has a lot in common with his favorite singer, Marc Anthony because "he lived in a drug infested area and made it out." 32 years old and married to Evelyn with three children (De'Angelo, Sasha, and Phylicia) Reyes likes to spend time with his family and stay young by playing and coaching sports. "The world is a great place", he says. "Live it, enjoy it, and give it your all. You only live once!"
.:BACK TO TOP:.Mario Rossi
For Mario Rossi the scariest day at the Police Academy was the first day when Sergeant Judge was tough on all the new recruits. The biggest surprise during his first four months of training was the discovery that the same Sergeant Judge isn't that tough on the trainees and that he really wants the platoon to pass as a team.
Mario is 23 years old and single. He was born in New Jersey and raised in Philly. Before joining the department he worked construction and did plastering. In his spare time he likes to play sports, go the movies, party with friends, play Playstation or listen to music.
His favorite television programs are Friends and Married with Children,_which, unfortunately, has been canceled. His favorite movie is Braveheart. He likes Mel Gibson because "he can play the tough guy, the bad guy, the cool, good guy, and the funny guy."
.:BACK TO TOP:.Gregory Segaline
A native of Philadelphia, Recruit Officer Segaline says he joined the department "to do the best job I can do to protect and serve the community."
Greg is 28 years old and single. He enjoys weight lifting, fishing, biking, and hanging out with his friends. He was a mechanic working on forklifts before he became a recruit. He agrees with many of his fellow trainees that Day 1 was the scariest time at the Academy.
"I think life has its ups and downs," said Segaline. "You can look at the brighter side of things or you can look at the darker side. I choose to look at the positive side of things."
.:BACK TO TOP:.Angelo Sellecchia
Recruit Officer Sellecchia is seriously into sports. In his spare time he likes to workout lifting weights. His hobby is playing sports and when he is watching television the TV is likely to be tuned to wrestling.
Born and raised in northeast Philly, 27 year old Angelo was a used-car salesman prior to starting at the Academy. He thinks that the first day at the college was the most frightening day in the last six months, but that looking back on it now, it was also funny.
Sellecchia identifies strongly with his Italian heritage. His favorite film is "Good Fellas" by Martin Scorcese. He would like Robert De Niro to play his part if Hollywood were making a film about Class 332. "He's multi-talented," said Angelo. "He can adapt to his environment, and has a classy Italian look about him." "Io sono," he says in Italian. "I am who I am."
UPDATE 2006: Angello resigned from the department and has opened a used car dealership with his father and brother.
.:BACK TO TOP:.Terrance Sistrunk
Recruit Officer Sistrunk is full of surprises. He will study very hard for an exam and then on the day of the test forget everything he learned...but somehow he manages to ace the exam. He is also double jointed so he can twist his hands and legs into strange positions.
Terrance is 35, married, and the father of three children. He was born in Philadelphia and raised in the Abbottsford Homes. He worked for UPS before becoming a Recruit Officer. When he finds some spare time he likes to sing or play pool.
Since starting at the Police Academy he has picked up a new nickname. Officer Kobler called him "Wildfire" during a class she was teaching. We were afraid to ask why!
.:BACK TO TOP:.Jeffrey Smith
On Friday he was on duty in the Air Force. The following Monday he started training at the Philadelphia Police Academy. During his three years in the service, Recruit Officer Jeffrey R. Smith had traveled all over the world providing security for military personnel and air bases. When he arrived in Philadelphia to began his police training he was still a member of the United States Air Force.
Smith chose to begin his new career in Philadelphia because he felt the department offered an opportunity to experience the broadest range of law enforcement activity. His goal on the job is "to be the best and to help whomever needs my help."
Born in Philadelphia, Smith was raised in Kingsley, Pennsylvania. He is married to his high school sweetheart and spends his spare time exercising, biking and lifting weights. At 21 he could pass for the title character in his favorite movie, Huckleberry Fin (if Huck had a military haircut.)
"Don't ever stop trying to achieve your goals," is at the core of Smitty's philosophy of life. If you have ever seen him training or working out in PT class, you know that this is a man who does what he says.
.:BACK TO TOP:.Tammy Smith
Profile to be added as soon as information is available.
.:BACK TO TOP:.Orin Stevens
Many of the Recruit Officers in Platoon B, Class 332, have family members on the job, but Orin Stevens is the only one whose wife is a trainee in the same class. Natasha Avery (AKA Mrs. Orin Stevens) is a member of Class 332, Platoon A.
There are a couple of other things about Stevens that might surprise people. He is a great actor. He played the Scarecrow in a production of "The Whiz" for a three night run. It was a great show and he still has the videotape to prove it.
He is also a basketball star although he has no intention of giving up his day job for the NBA. Maybe that's why he suggests Will Smith would be the perfect actor to play him in the Hollywood movie about Class 332. "He's funny and he can play basketball", says Stevens.
The real "Steve" is 27 and has three children. Before joining the department he worked for Peco Energy.
.:BACK TO TOP:.Virginia Stuart
Recruit Officer Stuart is not exactly what you might expect from a 35 year-old, married mother of three children. When asked what was the most unusual or surprising thing about her, she wrote, " I like to play volleyball, softball, and football, and I love mud."
Ginny does have many, more traditional interests. She likes to go to the beach and to concerts or just play with her kids or relax with friends. She crochets and makes dried flower arrangements and wall hangings.
After raising her kids she worked as an operator/dispatcher for a security alarm company. She was told about "Day One" before she came to the Academy, but even so she wasn't quite prepared. "I was so nervous," she says, "that someone could have slipped me my own death warrant and I would have signed it."
Now her goal in the department is to be the best she can be and to get promoted many times. "You can achieve your goals," she believes, "If you just take things at your own pace. If your heart is in it, you will get there!"
.:BACK TO TOP:.Justin Sullivan
Profile to be added as soon as information is available.
.:BACK TO TOP:.Peter Sweryda
Profile to be added as soon as information is available.
.:BACK TO TOP:.Aliya Taylor
Recruit Officer Aliya Taylor is an animal lover and a bird enthusiast with a special interest in parrots. When she has more time after graduating from the Academy she plans to pursue her interest in breeding Persian cats. Birds and cats in the same house? Maybe that is why she is training to become a "Peace Officer."
Aliya is 28 and has two children. She is a big fan of Star Trek, both the movies and the Star Trek series on TV. Before joining the police department she worked as a directory assistance operator for cell phones.
One surprising thing about her is that she has a speech impediment. It's a surprise because most people don't even notice it. "Life is 10 per cent of what happens to me," she says, "and 90 per cent of how I react to it. My attitude is what makes the difference."
Note: Aliya Taylor and Tahira Taylor are not related.
.:BACK TO TOP:.Tahira Taylor
At 20, Recruit Officer Tahira Taylor is the "baby" of Class 332. She loves to dance so one of her favorite activities is going to the club. Taylor also likes to take her son, Jahcee, with her to affairs with friends and family.
"Tee" was born just outside of the city at Lankenau Hospital and raised in West Philly. Before starting at the Academy she was working at Strawbridges Department Stores.
Taylor has had many surprises at the Academy. After hearing Sergeant Judge scream at the recruits on Day One, she was shocked to learn that he would be her platoon supervisor. Then she discovered that he didn't yell all the time and that he wasn't such a bad guy after all. Being able to carry a weapon at age 20 is another twist, since a civilian can not apply for a license to carry a weapon until the age of 21.
When asked which actress she would choose to play her in a movie about Class 332, Taylor named Angela Bassett. "She is very sophisticated and sexy and she don't take no stuff," said Tee. Bassett seems a perfect match for a recruit who believes, "You can do anything in life as long as you put your mind to it and never let anyone tell you that you can't achieve your goals."
.:BACK TO TOP:.Tony - Tuan Thai
Recruit Officer Thai likes to go to the movies and see films like "Indiana Jones." His favorite TV show is NYPD Blue. His leisure time choices are clues to his professional goal, which is to become a detective.
Tony is a native of Viet Nam. Before joining the Philadelphia Police Department he worked for the United States Post Office.
At 31, Thai is an avid reader and believes you should "never stop learning."
.:BACK TO TOP:.Eric Velez
Many trainees remember Day One at the Police Academy as a frightening experience. Recruit Officer Eric Velez thinks it was funny. Of course, most RO's were never cops before coming the College. Eric actually was a policeman in Puerto Rico.
Velez was born in Brooklyn, New York and then moved to Puerto Rico. He moved to Philadelphia and worked as a social worker before joining the department. He is married and has two children. In his spare time he likes to run and spend time with his family. Reading and site seeing are two of his special interests.
Eric cares about people - he likes to make friends - and feels strongly about injustice. "Law is necessary to bring justice, peace, and harmony," he says, "without it there would be chaos."
UPDATE 2006: Eric resigned from the department.
.:BACK TO TOP:.Jacqueline Venafra
UPDATE: Jackie resigned from the department for personal reasons.
.:BACK TO TOP:.Julie Waymack
Profile to be added as soon as information is available.
.:BACK TO TOP:.Christina Williams
Recruit Officer Christina Williams is a high-energy person who doesn't hesitate to speak her mind. "I'm very feisty for someone so small."
Tina has numerous hobbies and interest. She likes to go to the club with friends and to go biking or swimming with her son. She also enjoys doing home improvement like laying floor tiles, painting and stuccoing ceilings. Some days she will just chill with her family listening to jazz or oldies and "acting silly."
Two of the funny things she will remember about her training at the Police Academy include classmates falling asleep in class and the recruit who had to bring a steam iron to school for a week because he came to roll call in a wrinkled shirt.
Before coming to the Police Academy, Williams, who is 25, had worked in the mortgage business for several companies. She was a mortgage coordinator and eventually was in charge of foreclosures on properties and the Chapter 13's and 7's that customers would file to try to save their properties.
Tina believes that "you can do anything you put your mind to because through God all things are possible."
.:BACK TO TOP:.Jesse Woodhouse
Jesse's profile will be added soon.
.:BACK TO TOP:.Stanley Youmans
Stanley's profile will be added soon.
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