Arcadia Police Increase the Ranks
By Monrovia Weekly
Published: Thursday, March 27th, 2008
By Dorothy Denne
Seven officers have been added to the Arcadia Police Department.
In recent years, stalled salary negotiations, rising living costs, geographic changes, and natural attrition have reduced the number of sworn officers in the department to an uncomfortably low number. This has caused existing personnel to assume extra duties and work extra hours.
The recent contract settlement with the city, added to the other advantages of working in Arcadia, has put the department back in a more positive recruitment position in a very competitive field.
On Thursday, March 20, 2008, a swearing-in ceremony was conducted in Arcadia’s city council chambers. Five new Rio Hondo Police Academy graduates and two earlier graduates were added to the Arcadia Police Department.
The large audience of family, friends and welcoming Arcadia police officers applauded as City Clerk Jim Barrows administered the Oath of Office, City Manager Don Penman presented their flat badges, and Police Chief Bob Sanderson awarded their pin badges.
At the closing of the formal ceremony, Chief Sanderson, a 29-year veteran with the APD, said, “As you heard at the Academy, police work is not a job, it is a calling. It is a career that you can be proud to be a part of. Welcome to the Arcadia Police Department where hopefully you will be working for the next 30 to 40 years. Maybe then one of you will be standing here doing my job.” He then invited the inductees to bring their guests for a cake reception and tour of the station.
City Manager Penman said, “This is a good thing. Putting seven more officers in the field just adds to our confidence in the level of public safety in Arcadia.”
“At the rate we are going, we can anticipate being at full complement by year’s end,” added Chief Sanderson.
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