By STEVEN JUPITER
PITTSFORD—In the middle of the first true blizzard of the season on Saturday, friends and family braved the snow to watch two dozen proud recruits receive their certificates after a demanding four-month training program at the Vermont Police Academy (VPA) in Pittsford.
At a time when public sentiment toward law enforcement can often be described as “complicated,” the day offered Vermont’s law enforcement community an opportunity to openly celebrate its people and to remind itself of its commitment to public service.
Samantha Harambasic touches the badge of her husband, Officer Armin Harambasic of the Shelburne P.D. The symbolic gesture is meant to protect the new officer from harm.
The ceremony took place in the Academy’s gymnasium and began with the National Anthem, followed by remarks by Chris Brickell, VPA’s Deputy Director and former police chief in neighboring Brandon.
“I ask that you serve your communities with dignity, respect, and honor,” said Brickell, addressing the graduating class.
Ken Hawkins, director of training at VPA, then called the recruits one by one to the front of the hall where they received their certificates from Training Coordinator Jacob Hansell and Lindsay Thirvierge, director of administration.
After the graduates received their certificates, they each stood and waited for a spouse, family member, or close friend to come touch their badges. According to Hawkins, the tradition “comes from a time when family or loved ones would help pin the badges.” Today, Hawkins added, the gesture is a symbol to “help protect the wearer from harm.”
Awards were presented to outstanding members of the 114th Basic Class: Nicholas Kandra (South Burlington P.D.), Kegan Philbrick (Burlington P.D.), Robert Fournier (Essex P.D.), and Shawn Hammond (Wilmington P.D.). Lt. Christopher Bataille (South Burlington P.D.) received an Instructors Award as well.
Officer Cathleen Pigeon of the Shelburne P.D. greets her father, Jack Grimmer, and son, Liam, after receiving her graduation certificate.
Keegan Philbrick, President of the 114th Basic Class, took the podium and offered praise to his classmates for their fortitude and commitment to community service. He explained that the class motto — “Own it, Fix it, Recover” — had started as a joke, but was quickly adopted as a serious lesson in overcoming mistakes, conflicts and adversity. Philbrick also noted that while law enforcement may be experiencing public criticism now, “the pendulum will swing back in our favor.”
The ceremony concluded with the recruits filing out of the gymnasium to the strains of a bagpipe played by Officer Aiden Alnwick of the Brandon Police. Once outside, in the falling snow, the recruits lowered and folded the Academy’s flags. These flags are lowered and folded by the recruits every evening, but on graduation they are presented back to the Academy to signify that the class has completed its training.
