CHICAGO, 2012-08-29 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) congratulates 10 Aviation Security Officers (ASO) who graduated from the Chicago Police Academy today as part of a Metropolitan Recruit ceremony for two classes of officers. The 10 ASOs are part of a group of 13 Aviation Security Officers who were hired in May to fill vacancies at O’Hare International Airport. All 13 ASOs are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces and have extensive military and law enforcement experience from all four branches of service.
Of the two graduating classes, the ASO group received the highest scores in academics and physical training. In addition, ASO John Smith, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), received a plaque for being voted the most outstanding recruit in his class.
The CDA’s hiring of new security officers comes on the heels of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s ‘Returning Veterans Initiative’ announced last spring that helps veterans coming home to Chicago integrate back into civilian life by getting access to the services they need.
“We are pleased to add these highly qualified law enforcement officers to O’Hare and MidwayInternationalAirports,” said CDACommissioner Rosemarie S. Andolino. “We are proud to hire officers with such distinguished records of service to our country. At Chicago’s airports, we continue to make the safety and security of our travelers and employees our highest priority.”
Of the 13 officers, 10 graduated from the Chicago Police Academytoday and three are already state-certified law enforcement officers. Eight of the officers have served overseas in hostile fire zones and one served as a police advisor and trainer in Iraq.
The other 17 officers who graduated today are employed by the following City and suburban public service agencies and businesses – Villa Park; Berwyn; Northeastern Illinois University; Rosemont, Loyola University;Round Lake; Burr Ridge; the University of Chicago and Amtrak.
The CPD Police Academy provided progressive and comprehensive training to develop policing skills, enhance leadership abilities, and promote a solid ethical foundation. Also, throughout the entire Basic Metropolitan Recruit Program, peace officer core values of professionalism, obligation, leadership, integrity, courage, and excellence were stressed and reinforced.
###
Aviation Security Officers at graduation ceremony – (Top row l-r) RIchard Zuley, CDA Project Administrator; CPD officer Lee Trevino, Police Academy Homeroom Instructor; Richard Tabisz, USMC; Sean Watt, USMC; James Jacks, US Army; Andrew Weiner, USMC; James Smith, USMC; Mark McInerny, Airport Security Shift Supervisor; Joseph O’Connor Jr., CDA Managing Deputy Commissioner, Aviation Security and Thomas Herion, CDA Assistant Commissioner, Aviation Security. (Bottom row l-r) James Biedenbender, US Air Force; Ivan Robles-Roston, USMC; Jason McIntyre, US Air Force; Christian Clark. USMC and Mathew Dumais, USMC.