The Ormsby House ballroom was filled Tuesday with law enforcement officers from all over Nevada, gathered to celebrate academy graduations for 18 of their own.
On hand to welcome new graduates and seasoned veterans into new ranks was 33-year assemblyman and Speaker of the House Joe Dini, D-Yerington. His son David, who works at the state fire marshall's office, received honors from the academy.
"Law enforcement is a field that will always be the same in some ways and always changing in others," Joe Dini told the graduates and their families in the audience. "You are here as public servants and, as importantly, you are here as neighbors."
This is the first class graduated for the new Peace Officers Standards in Training academy. Under the new program, day-time and live-in students undergo 16 weeks of intensive academic and skills training.
The academy, which includes a dormitory, is located on Snyder Avenue in South Carson City. The next training session begins in June.
Peace officers from city, state and county agencies are sent by their organizations to undergo training at the academy. Once they graduate, they bring the skills they have learned to their new jobs.
Eric Smith, son of Lyon County Sheriff Sid Smith, has been working with the Lyon County force for three years. He will start patrol duties in the near future.
"I grew up around it and knew the people at the department," he said. "I decided a long time ago that this was something I wanted to do."
Having to serve the traditional rookie graveyard shift does not intimidate Smith. "That's when you get all the hot calls," he said.
Cody Eason, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, was selected class leader. He spoke about the loyalty and service that are inherent parts of a career in law enforcement.
"The reason we are here is to serve our community," he said.
Graduates include: Jeff Cooley, Churchill County Sheriff's Department; Robert Geraldo, Nevada Prisons; Andrew Neff, Elko County Sheriff's Department; John Frandsen, Fallon Police; Orlando Guerra, Lander County Sheriff's Department.
Eric Smith and Bryan Veil, Lyon County Sheriff's Department; Fred Jackson and John Swisher, Nevada Division of Wildlife; Ryan McDonald and Randy Rice, Nevada Youth Parole; Cody Eason, Pre-service; Darrell LaRue, Reno Fire Department; Scott Balder, Nevada Secretary of State.
David Dini, Nevada Fire Marshal's Office; Robert Clark, West Wendover Police Department; Zane Jordan, White Pine County Sheriff's Department and William Fielding, Yerington Police Department.
