Graduation Ceremony for Academy Class # 474

On Thursday, July 18, 2024, a total of 27 polished recruits lined up at STARS Center Gymnasium in what would be their final platoon formation as academy classmates. After 22 weeks of rigorous academy training, the recruits pressed through an equally intense and meticulous formal class inspection by law enforcement executives just before the ceremony.

The ceremony formalized the transformation of academy recruits into sworn peace officers. Sheriff Robert G. Luna presided over the ceremony and delivered encouraging remarks to the four female and 23 male graduates and their guests.

Sheriff Robert G. Luna, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was joined on stage by Division Chief Armando Gonzalez of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control; Chief Manuel Cid of the Glendale Police Department; Chief Fabian Valde of the San Fernando Police Department; and Chief Ramon Batista of the Santa Monica Police Department in presenting the 27 graduates with their Peace Officer Standards and Training certificates. The graduates were then officially sworn in as California Peace Officers.

In a special segment of the ceremony, Deputy Victorio, LASD, was named as the class Honor Recruit. This award is earned by the recruit who achieved the highest numerical average based on leadership qualities, academics, marksmanship, and physical performance throughout the training period. Deputy Andrew Akhnokh, LASD, was honored as the Academic Recruit. This award is earned by the recruit who achieved the highest academic scores.

Academy Class #474 is a largely international collection of backgrounds reflective of the vast array of cultures found within Los Angeles County. Of the (27) graduating recruits, (21) recruits speak a language other than English, including Armenian, Hebrew, Korean, Spanish, and Tagalog.

These graduates bring with them a large source of higher education (9), service experience in the armed forces (4), backgrounds in law enforcement (3), and many come from families with a tradition of serving in law enforcement (4).

In addition to the array of experience, backgrounds, and education graduating in Class #474, Recruit Kwalawasser served in the United States Navy for 28 years. His assignments/ranks include: Chief Warrant Officer-4 (CWO-4). MOS's: 9272 (NGLO); 9240 (Officer-In-Charge / OIC); CD-1 (Line Officer Shore Assignment, OIC); BX2 (Fleet Marine Force Warfare Officer & Expeditionary Warfare Officer qualified); SD7 (SCUBA Trained Officer qualified for Open Circuit & Closed Circuit Underwater Breathing Apparatus); BT1 (Static Line Parachutist & High Altitude High Opening (HAHO) Parachutist); 3Q3 (Intelligence Officer, Special Warfare, Special Operations Forces Intelligence); QK1 (Special Warfare & Naval Special Warfare, Combat Support and Combat Service Support); BU1 (Special Technical Operations).

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Congratulates Academy Class #474!