‘Cream of the crop’ new cops join Lawton ranks

Twenty-three weeks of intensive training and learning culminated Friday at Lawton City Hall as graduates of the Lawton Police Academy officially went from being cadets to cops.

Seven new Lawton police officers, a Lawton assistant fire marshal and a Waurika police officer lined up in front of the staging area of the City Council chamber with right hands raised and repeated the law enforcement officer oath of office with Municipal Judge Nathan Johnson.

New Lawton Police Officer Axle Ocasio, who’d been selected by her classmates to speak for them during the graduation ceremony, shared the No. 1 lesson learned together and found within themselves.

“We learned throughout this experience we are not alone,” she said. “This is our purpose, our destiny, our calling.”

In addressing the new graduates, Police Chief James T. Smith spoke of how these nine graduates may never have thought this day would come. But over the course of things, they learned to build character and the importance of teamwork, lessons that will keep them strong as attitudes toward police change. He reminded them that they work for the citizens and are tasked with an ever-evolving career.

“It is amazing people nowadays want to go into the profession of law enforcement in these days around the country,” he said. “You’re the changing face of law enforcement.”

Smith offered a reminder that the job of a law officer changes “each and every day” while facing any number of situations. He said this class had the right stuff and they will remember this moment throughout their lives.

“This is a truly monumental day,” he said. “It’s the day you step forward that you are going to make a change to this city, this state and this nation.”

It’s a moment to take pride in the accomplishments made over the academy’s training, according to City Manager John Ratliff. A career lawyer, he noted the new officers’ missions primary imperatives are to keep the community safe, take bad guys off the street and to deter crime where they can. That means enforcing the laws equally for all or “the community can’t thrive, otherwise.”

“Police play a critical role in enforcing the rule of law,” he said. “Your enforcement of the law must be fair and just.”

Ratliff warned the officers to not let experience once they’re on the beat change them negatively. Remember, their fight is good, he said.

“Don’t let the streets take your compassion,” he said. “Don’t let the streets take your humanity.”