New Ossining Officers Graduate From Westchester Police Academy

OSSINING, 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 Robert Cregier and Christian Mosqueda joining the Ossining Police Department.

"Every graduation is unique but this one was particularly memorable," Ossining police officials said on Facebook. "Officer Christian Mosqueda received his graduation certificate from his father, Officer Rene Mosqueda. The two will work together in the patrol division. Then, Officer Cregier was announced as 'Best Overall Recruit' for this class, an award our department hasn’t received in many years.

"We’re excited for these officers to get into field training. They’ll be at the police academy this week for additional certifications and then will be assigned a local training officer to ensure they’re familiar with all of our departments policies and procedures. Congratulations to all of the graduates of Class 155!"

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," Latimer said.

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," Raynor said. "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.
• Mount Vernon: 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.
• New Rochelle: Juan Santiago.
• 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.