Recruits join UNRPD
University of Nevada, Reno Police Department Cmdr. Todd Renwick gives graduate Jake Steinman his certificate during the 2008 Reserve Academy Graduation Ceremony Monday at Lawlor Events Center. Amy Beck/Nevada Sagebrush
On Saturday morning, 14 people stood on the field at Carson Middle School, preparing to root on their fellow recruits.
They spent the last 16 weekends commuting between Carson City and Reno with one goal in mind: graduate from the joint Carson City Sheriff’s Office and University of Nevada, Reno Police Department’s Reserve Law Enforcement Academy.
On Monday night, they took oaths administered by UNRPD Chief Adam Garcia to become reserve peace officers. Each department will receive seven new officers in their ranks.
“We started out as individuals, but we’ll leave as brothers and sisters as we join the law enforcement family,” class speaker Adam Heinz said during the graduation ceremony. “Recruits, like it or not, we’re family.”
Joining UNRPD are Seana Baker, Eric Diamond, Brenden Donnan, Silverio Mendoza Jr., Daniel Mulligan, Christopher Sanchez and Jake Steinman.
Also graduating from the program and joining CCSO are Heinz, Matthew Cannizzaro, Chad Cerniglia, Charles Jennings, Desiree Johnson, Joshua Kautz and Kelly Martensen.
This is the first reserve officer program UNR participated in, Garcia said. UNRPD partnered with CCSO, which already had a 220-hour program. The program includes firearm tactics and physical agility tests.
Garcia and UNR President Milton Glick worked together for the last two years to create the partnership and provide money for the program. To join, the recruits must be 21 years old and free on weekends. They bought their own uniforms and equipment, costing about $2,000.
CCSO program director John Suarez watched the recruits run around the track Saturday morning as he explained that going through the program requires commitment.
“Most of them are in their 20s and they’re seeing how law enforcement would work for them,” Suarez said.
Steinman, a 21-year-old ecohydrology major, stood in the Silver and Blue Room at Lawlor Events Center after Monday’s graduation ceremony, smiling as a family member pinned on his badge.
He said he decided to join the program because it’s part of the Washoe County Search and Rescue Team.
“After 16 weeks, it’s great to finally be done,” Steinman said, who received the Recruit Achievement Award for the UNRPD class. “We went through the real experience. I can’t wait to start.”
Steinman, along with the six other new officers, will work his first football game this weekend. When football season is over, the reserve officers will patrol with others from UNRPD.
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