Sep

OPS’ newest officers make the grade

Almost 30 new protection officers graduated from basic training in August.

The graduates of the Office of Protection Services’ 2019-02 Basic Level Entry Training Class proudly show off their commissions and badges at graduation. (Photo by Ann Staples)

On August 27th, OPS celebrated the most recent Basic Entry Level Training (BELT) graduation. The ceremony, held at the Training Academy on Pennsy Drive in Landover, Maryland, was well attended by family, friends and colleagues. The keynote speaker was Mike McCarthy, Acting Under Secretary for Finance & Administration/ Chief Operating Officer. OPS Director Jeanne O’Toole also shared remarks.

In her address to the graduates, Director O’Toole spotlighted OPS values and acknowledged the wide variety of experience levels within the class. She also mentioned some interesting details about the class, including the fact that there was a husband and wife duo graduating together—a first for BELT—and another graduate who juggled 5-month-old twins while completing training. Class President Tracee Taylor also spoke to the group, doing a great job highlighting key points from the OPS Strategic Plan and reminiscing about PowerPoint presentations.

The classroom portion of BELT covers many topics, from CPR and screening procedures to use of force. More practical parts of training include ASP Baton, OC Spray and handcuffing. In addition, students spend many hours at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) firearms ranges working on marksmanship, weapons handling and weapons qualification.

Many guest instructors augments the training, including representatives from Occupational Health Services, Human Resources, and Safety, as well as Deputy Director Doug Hall. Lead Instructor for Class 02-2019 was Anthony Green, assisted by Firearms Instructors Gerry Brown and William Greenwood, new Instructor Calvin Roberts and newly promoted Supervisory Instructor, John Thompson. A new member
to the team is Kim Beck, Organizational Development and Training Manager.

A few members of the class were commissioned earlier in their training, but for the majority of the class, this was the day they raised their right hand for commissioning and received their badges. BELT provided them the building blocks to officially assume their duties as officers.

Please congratulate BELT Class 02-2019:

Class President Tracee Taylor
Jonathan Alarcon
Michael Bailey
Roger L. Belton
Tiffany L. Brown
Michael Bryan
Shameeka Burnette
Arnold Caulker
Anthony Cleveland
Quentin O. Doby
Justin Doyle
Gladden Durham
Teneka Durham
Krystal Easterlin
Asia Freeland
Dominique Grinnage
Lanell Hawkins
William Henderson
Khiala Hicks
Jermaine Johnson
Lillian Johnson
Tyrone Meekins
Marquie Newman Sr.
Lindsay Ruano
Kira Thornton
Durond Vann
Desmond Williams