Incoming Police Officers Give Hope For ‘Great’ OPD

It’s beyond a cliche to say that a commencement is not an end but a beginning. But that doesn’t make it any less true. And it’s hard to attend a graduation and not feel hope, hope for all the potential good that can result from all those young aspirations.
So it was Sunday, March 13, at SUNY Oneonta’s Hunt Union Ballroom, as wellwishers gathered to congratulate and celebrate nine new police officers completing training at the Otsego County Law Enforcement Academy.
Six of the nine will join the ranks of the Oneonta Police Department, and it was hard not to contemplate the OPD’s recent challenges without a renewed hope that the “great” police force Mayor Miller is promising will indeed be achieved.
The speakers hit just the right note.
Lt. Dennis Nayor, officer in charge after the chief’s recent resignation, challenged the new recruits to uphold the ideals of the profession, treating everyone with dignity and compassion, guided by honor and integrity.  “Everything else has zero meaning without it.”
“Never dishonor the badge,” exhorted the academy’s director, Lt. Jonathan Bartlett, quoting former county sheriff Don Mundy, the academy’s founder.  And Bartlett cautioned the class, “with great power comes great responsibility.”
The awards portion of the evening was telling as well:  Of the nine graduates, six had perfect-attendance records over 10 months and 650 hours of training.  A 66 percent record reflects commitment.
So does the level of achievement.  Officer Brian J. Cetnar got the top score on the firing range.  But his 227.50 score was just a quarter-point higher than New Berlin Officer Richard A. Pagillo, who also serves parttime on the Cooperstown force.
SUNY Police Officer Lucas S. Hoague’s top academic score was 95.15, but he was only .07 points ahead of Oneonta’s Amanda L. Spoor.  Competition brings out the best in people, for sure.
With commencement there’s hope, indeed, and it was easy to depart at ceremony’s end with a good feeling about the OPD’s future.
 Congratulations, graduates, and much continuing success. 
Do the community proud.  Do yourselves proud.

Jim Kevlin/HOMETOWN ONEONTA
The OPD’s newest officers, from left, are Amanda L. Spoor, Brian J. Cetnar, Stacy L. Ferris, Jennifer L. Imperato-Barrows and Lucas R. Shaw.  At left are Mayor Miller and Alderman Paul Robinson; at right, Lt. Dennis Nayor and Sgt. Douglas Brenner.