Twenty-seven police recruits graduated today from the Westchester County Police Academy and are headed off to work at 11 law enforcement agencies in Westchester and beyond.
The new officers, who completed 20 weeks of training at the police academy in Valhalla, received their diplomas during a ceremony at the State University of New York at Purchase. Family members and friends packed the Performing Arts Center and cheered the graduates who were called forward individually to receive their diplomas.
Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino, Department of Public Safety Commissioner George N. Longworth and District Attorney Janet DiFiore addressed the graduates and wished them well in their careers.
“Stay true to your ideals and rely on the outstanding training and example you have received these past 20 weeks,” Astorino said. “The challenges ahead will be many. Greater still will be the rewards that come from doing this important work with humanity and professionalism.”
Longworth told the new officers that police work today was more demanding than ever.
“The times we live in are very challenging and never have the demands on law enforcement been greater. The threats to our safety come not only from criminals but from ideological enemies both here and abroad,” he said.
The graduates and their departments are: Dwayne Jones, Matthew Melillo, Melissa Monik, Christopher Renda and Nicole Palazzo, New Rochelle PD; Evan Murtaugh, Croton-on-Hudson PD; Stephen Dilegge, Christian Koster and Joseph Pegna, Eastchester PD; Paul Robibero, Greenburgh PD; Jeffrey Slotoroff, Mount Kisco PD; Anthony Nappi, Peekskill PD; Peter Carcaterra and David Johnson, Pelham Manor PD; William Gallagher, Village of Ossining PD; and Eric Loguidice and Paul Zavadil, Scarsdale PD.
Also: Johnathon Cihanek, Ryan Diskin, Michael Neuner and Michael Varley, Putnam County Sheriff’s Department; and Eva Barriga, Keith Christensen, Gregory Dunleavy, Sarah Hyde, Karen Kelly and Joseph Monroig, Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
NOTE: If you have photos of Dwayne Jones, Matthew Melillo, Melissa Monik, Christopher Renda and Nicole Palazzo at the event please send them along.