82nd KPD Grad Class — Nine Newly-sworn in KPD Officers

82nd KPD Police Recruit graduating class. L-R: Mathew Beadle; Dustin Broad; Richard Brown; Christopher Cabrera; Joshua Leines; Andrew Muraoka; Lance Okasaki; Stacy Perreira; and Arthur Styan. Courtesy photo

KPD honors 82nd Recruit Class graduates

LĪHU’E – The Kaua’i Police Department held a graduation ceremony at the Kaua’i Beach Resort Friday night for its 82nd Police Recruit Class.

The event honored nine newly sworn-in Police Services Officers, including: Mathew Beadle; Dustin Broad; Richard Brown; Christopher Cabrera; Joshua Leines; Andrew Muraoka; Lance Okasaki; Stacy Perreira; and Arthur Styan.

Dustin Broad was also honored with a Most Outstanding Police Recruit award for being the most proficient in all areas of the recruit training process.

Guest speakers included Police Chief Darryl Perry, Deputy Chief Michael Contrades, Police Commission Chair Ernest Kanekoa, Jr. and Council Chair Jay Furfaro. Their messages centered on the importance of working as a team, and never straying from doing what is pono — correct —as stated in KPD’s mission statement.

“You will be expected to stand up for what is right when it is the most difficult thing to do and you are up against insurmountable odds,” Chief Perry stated while addressing the group. “But under all circumstances, both on and off duty, and when times get really tough, let your mission be your guide. Never stray from its virtues and always be pono.”

Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho, Jr. offered the keynote address at the ceremony, stressing the importance of unity and family.

“You are now part of a larger ‘ohana, and no matter what, we are always one team,” Carvalho told the graduating class. “Our goal is common — to do the best for our community — and that is what guides us every day in all we do.”

The Mayor continued, “It is only by working together that we can make a positive difference for the people of our beautiful island of Kaua’i.”

Honorable Chief Judge Randal Valenciano conducted the swearing in of officers. Pinning badges was next on the agenda.

The graduation ceremony is the culmination of six months of over 1,400 hours of recruit training, including a series of academic and physical challenges. The new police services officers have already begun their next phase of the program, which is three months of on-the-job training with a field training officer.

The last recruit graduation occurred in 2010, and with 19 current vacancies and upcoming retirements, the Kaua’i Police Department remains dedicated to its recruiting effort. The next recruit class is scheduled to begin in December 2012

Those interested in becoming Kaua’i police officers may visit www.kauai.gov/police to apply.

KPD offers these tips to applicants: When answering application questions, be thorough and honest; Consider your physical condition and get prepared; Be sure to turn in all required documents on time; No exceptions will be made; and If there are follow-up requests to your application, be sure to respond in a timely manner.

For information on the KPD recruiting process, contact Lt. Rob Gausepohl at 241-1651. For more County of Kaua`i information, click here.