New Mount Vernon Officers Graduate From Westchester Police Academy

MOUNT VERNON, NY — Sixty-one recruits graduated Friday from the Westchester County Police Academy and are headed off to work at 19 law enforcement agencies in Westchester and beyond — including 13 officers joining the Mount Vernon Police Department.

The new officers include: Angeline Ballesteros, Virginie Beauvoir, Jimmy Bosque, Kyren Braunskill, Brian Familia, John Fiumefreddo, Brandi Mason, Sheila Miller, Alphonse Piliero, Michael Sabatino, Liridone Tetaj, Maximillian Ward, Ra-Mel Williamson.

"We want to congratulate the Mount Vernon Officers that graduated from the Zone Three Police Academy as well as all of the other graduates from Departments throughout the region," Mount Vernon Police Department officials said on Facebook. "Serve Mount Vernon well, with dignity and respect."

The new officers, who completed 21 weeks of training at the police academy in Valhalla, received their diplomas before a packed house at the SUNY Purchase Performing Arts Center.

County Executive George Latimer, Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins and Acting Public Safety Commissioner Terrance Raynor presented the graduates of the 155th Session of Basic Recruit School with their diplomas and congratulated them for mastering the physical and academic demands of the academy.

Latimer told the graduates that their willingness to serve their communities and put themselves in harm’s way was not just a job but a higher calling. He noted that our nation marks Memorial Day this weekend and he compared their courage and commitment to those who gave their lives serving our nation in the armed forces.

"We send you out into the community to do something a majority of people can’t do. We thank you for the service you will provide to your communities and the people of Westchester."

Raynor encouraged the graduates to pay as much attention to their emotional well-being as they will to their physical fitness.

"In this line of work you may eventually see and deal with some unimaginable horrors and find the need to decompress. Fortunately law enforcement professionals are paying more attention to officer wellness. No longer is there a stigma attached to a person who seeks emotional support. In fact, across the country, we are beginning to recognize that officer wellness is equally as important as officer safety."

The other new officers and their departments are:

• Westchester County: Jake Barbara, Christopher Duffy, Matthew Laccetti, Sean MacDonald, Francisca Menaez, Tyler Smith, Brian Walsh.
• Bronxville: Kevin Iglesias.
• Carmel: Matthew Valente.
• East Fishkill: Jason Bailey, Duresa Berisha.
• Eastchester: Daniel Krippel, Nicholas Scala, Michael Schur.
• Greenburgh: Tyler Weir.
• Lewisboro: Charles Mule.
• Mamaroneck Village: John Paul.
• Mount Pleasant: Michael Theriault.
• New Rochelle: Juan Santiago.
• Ossining: Robert Cregier, Christian Mosqueda.
• Port Chester: Michael Guerrero, Alan Novoa.
• Rye Brook: Amber Meagher.
• Scarsdale: Ainsley Brown, Anthony Gallindo.
• SUNY Optometry: Ryan Luu.
• White Plains: Martin Loane, Joseph Maniscalco, Amanda Patterson, Kaitlyn Scully, Anthony Volpe.
• Yonkers: Faith Anker, Nicholas Antenucci,,Faith Berry, Jean Cabral, Julio Castillo, Keven Cochran, Robert Gebo, Sharnel Hill, Jeffrey Knanishu, Kendell Luquis, Joseph Nolan, Vincenzo Pullano, Timothy Riordan, Tiffany Roman, Angelique Sarro.
• Yorktown: Gino Argiro.