CONTACT: Sgt. Belinda Nettles 
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TWELVE AIRPORT POLICE YOUTH CADETS GRADUATE FROM LAPD CADET ACADEMY

(Los Angeles, California – July 3, 2014) Twelve Airport Police youth cadets ranging in ages between 13 and 20 years of age graduated from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Cadet Academy Program and were sworn-in on June 28 during a ceremony in the University of Southern California’s Galen Center. The cadets will be assigned to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) where they will participate in airport police and community events throughout the airport and surrounding area.
In attendance at the graduation ceremony were Airport Police Chief Patrick M. Gannon, Assistant Chief Ethel McGuire, Captain Greg Staar, Sergeant’s Daniel Romo, Joe Espitia and Karla Ortiz, Youth Service Officers (YSO) William Lara and Ericka Holliday and Officer Charles Yoon. Also in attendance was Motor Officer George Chen father of cadet graduates George and Christine.
“We are very proud of our cadets and look forward to the opportunity to continue to mentor them,” Chief Gannon said. “The cadet program has proven to be a great benefit for today’s youth and I am honored that the Airport Police Division has this opportunity to serve our community by offering this program,” he said.
The cadet’s duties and activities this past year included; volunteering at the Los Angeles Dodgers games, the El Segundo 5K run for education, Hollywood Bowl events, helping restore the USS Iowa Battleship, participating in Make-a-Wish Foundation events, as well as many other activities. Also: participating in joint outings with other cadet organizations such as; hiking, beach days, basketball and volleyball games.
YSO’s Ericka Holliday and William Lara are tasked with mentoring and teaching leadership skills to the cadets on a daily basis. Earlier this year, Cadet Sergeant Lamont Green successfully promoted to Youth Cadet Commander. He was recommended by his fellow LAPD Police Orientation and Preparation Program Classmates (POPP). POPP is a one of a kind exploratory educational experience that places career bound law enforcement students in an established LAPD training environment.
The Airport Police Cadet Program is open to youths between the ages of 13 and 20. The goal of the program is to help instill the values of leadership, academic excellence, life skills and discipline into participants. The program also seeks to empower students with the skills to maximize personal, scholastic and life potential as well as provide insights into law-enforcement careers. The next Cadet Academy class is scheduled to begin on July 26, 2014, if interested contact Airport Police Recruitment at 1-800-GO-AIR-PD for further information.
The Los Angeles Airport Police Division is the nation's premier aviation law enforcement agency with over 1,100 specially trained police officers, security officers, and civilian staff protecting Los Angeles International, LA/Ontario International and Van Nuys airports.


From Left to Right – Congratulations Youth Cadets Officers Gabriela Alvarado, Christine and George Chen, Jonathan Jackson,

Sebastian Rivera, Giselle Gonzalez, Maria Diaz; Back Row - Wendy Salcedo, Anthony Velasco, Matthew Sutton, Cristal Barajas,

Yesenia Gomez; YSO Ericka Holliday and William Lara, Assistant Chief Ethel McGuire, Captain Greg Staar and Airport Police Chief Patrick M. Gannon

Opening Youth Cadet Graduation Ceremony-Honor Guard Post Colors

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Photographs Courtesy Detective Michael Gentry