Editor’s note: This press release was provided by Westchester County.

(Valhalla, NY)  – Sixty-nine police recruits graduated Wednesday from the Westchester County Police Academy and are headed off to work at 14 law enforcement agencies in Westchester and two in Putnam County.

Due to the Covid-19 crisis, a scaled-down graduation ceremony was conducted on the drill floor at the Police Academy in Valhalla and was streamed live on the Westchester County Police YouTube channel. The ceremony itself was limited to the recruits and members of the Police Academy staff.

Prior to the ceremony, videotaped messages of congratulation from County Executive George Latimer and Chief Christopher McNerney, president of the Westchester County Chiefs of Police Association, were played for the graduates in lieu of in-person speeches.

“We know that you have already achieved intellectually, you’ve achieved physically, you’ve proved that you’ve got what it takes to be successful,” Latimer said. “And we’re rooting for your success and we’re very happy that this moment has come. This is a class like no other, with the pandemic around us.”

He concluded, “Congratulations for your achievement and know that when you go out there we have your back. You’re doing a great service for your fellow Westchester and Putnam residents.”

Public Safety Commissioner Thomas A. Gleason, who provided the only in-person remarks, saluted the class for persevering through the challenges posed by the pandemic.

“This class came in 69 strong and you go out 69 strong. In the face of this pandemic and these unsettling times, no one bailed out. No one said this is more than I bargained for. No one said I will leave this difficult and dangerous environment to someone else. So I salute you all for staying the course,” he said.

He added, “No one in Westchester law enforcement will have had an Academy experience quite like this one. That’s a badge of honor the 149^th Session will always have.”

The new officers and their departments are:

Ardsley: Jonathan Goldstein

Carmel: Vincent Desantola, Arthur Kloskowski

Dobbs Ferry: Stephen Foley

Eastchester: Anthony Guerriero, Nicholas Occhicone, Andrew Tiso

Harrison: Andrew Clokey, Nicholas Conte, Anastas Papazov, Michael Pellegrino

Hastings-on-Hudson: Stephanie Minor

Mount Pleasant: Daniel Lovett

Mount Vernon: Kristin Hambas, John Hecht, Intiaz Jaipal, Nicholas Kikis, Stephanie Mendez, Jesus Oceguera Ayala, Nelson Santana, Stefano Silvestri, John Tychyn

New Rochelle: Hanson Bamfo, Deivy Martinez, Phalen Pedro, Kyle Sanchez, Beqir Tagani

Pelham Manor: John Luiso

Putnam County Sheriff: Corey Berke

Scarsdale: Nicholas Saglibene

Sleepy Hollow: Melissa Ojito, Julio Sosa

SUNY Purchase: Tiffany Charles

White Plains: Anthony Bambach, James Connelly, Christopher Coughlan, Jessica Hunt, Andrew Jacobsen, Ashley Martinez, Brendon Mavra, Michael Monroig, Anthony Paguio, Robert Samuel

Yonkers: Gianni Benros, Ben Brady, Daniel Bruno, Hector Cartegena, Joseph Cosenza, Briana Darcy, Bianca Doblado, Albert Fagan, Paul Faia, Arthur Foti, Luis German, Theresa Gottron, Nachyra Jimenez, Courtney McCormack, Joseph McEntee, Mark Mendelson, Matthew Nassar, Joseph Nyemchek, Michelle Perrotta, Jared Pinto, Makena Raffa, Robert Riti, Randy Rodriguez-Herrera, Daquan Scott, Leonard Spano, Nicholas Spano.