LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Joe Baeza,

  The Laredo Police Department held a swearing in ceremony for three of their newest officers.  Jesus Gabriel Lugo Jr., age 27, Marco Antonio Samaniego, age 26, and Ramiro Villarreal, age 25 were sworn in by City Secretary Gustavo Guevara at the Laredo Police Department in a small but special ceremony.  These officers are part of 18 new hires for the Laredo Police Department. 

 These officers were already were licensed Texas Peace Officers from different agencies when they were hired.  With their Peace Officer certification out of the way they underwent a condensed LPD training.  The officers basically forewent the LCC Academy setting and directly went to the more specific LPD in house training where the cadets are instructed in the department’s policies and regulations, along with a bevy of other topics. 

This expedited format allows the officers to bypass repetitive training and become proficiently trained as LPD officers.  No shortcuts just efficient, more concise training.  The officers will now serve as Laredo Police Officers in Field Training mode where they are supervised by a senior officer until it is determined that the officer in training can satisfactorily meet the high standards and demands of a police officer eventually leading to being on their own. 

 There are 15 cadets still in training at the LCC Regional Police Academy who should also be sworn in sometime early this year.  These new hires are part of the COPS grants hires from the United States Department of Justice.  Congressman Henry Cuellar delivered the check for over 4 million dollars in late September 2010 to the city and the department.  Chief Maldonado pinned Officers Lugo and Samaniego while Officer Villarreal was pinned by his wife Niky Villarreal and 7 year old daughter Michelle Villarreal.  The three will join the rest of the 15 cadets in a more formal and grand scale swearing in ceremony later this year.