Joplin Police Department recognizes seven officers at Badge Pinning Ceremony

On Thursday, July 18, the Joplin Police Department recognized seven officers who recently completed all training requirements and are now serving the community as Police Officers.

They include: Officer Jeremiah McGough; Officer Cade Moreno; Officer Haley Perkins; Officer Austin Phillips; Officer Erik Velazquez; Officer Ryan Berry; and Officer Dylan Seth Box.

Officers Berry and Box are recent lateral transfers who came to Joplin Police Department from the Newton County Sheriff’s Office with several years of experience and expertise.

The culmination of training and advancement by officers at the Joplin Police Department is something that is earned and not given. For a new officer, this includes over 600 hours of training at a state certified law enforcement academy, followed by an additional 8 weeks of advanced instruction at the JPD in-house training academy, which is then followed by a 16-week hands on field training program.

The honor of wearing a Joplin Police Officer badge is something that is earned, and is not given. The badge pinning ceremony gives officers specific and individual recognition, presents their newly earned badge, and affords them the opportunity to have it pinned on their uniform by a spouse, friend, family member or other loved one.

Additionally, JPD chaplains also provide a great service to our officers as they pray over them and bestow each with a custom gift to help guide them through their careers.

The officers take their official oaths of office as they raise their right hands and swear to fulfill the duties of the position they’ve worked so hard to earn.