Central Park

The Daily Plant : Thursday, March 20, 2003

PARKS & RECREATION GRADUATES 42 "AMBASSADORS" TO THE PARKS

On Tuesday, March 18, forty-two recruits graduated from the Urban Park Service Academy. Commissioner Adrian Benepe swore in the men and women as Urban Park Rangers, Parks Enforcement Patrol officers, and Communications Officers in a ceremony held in the Arsenal in Central Park. Deputy Commissioner Kevin Jeffrey, Assistant Commissioner Jack Linn, and Chief of the Urban Park Service Alex Brash assisted in the ceremony that was attended by the graduates and their families.

After the singing of the National Anthem by Officer Jessica Cowan, Commissioner Benepe gave the Commencement Address. "Most of my core parks knowledge, knowledge that I still use everyday, I picked up in my service as an Urban Park Ranger," he said. "The great thing about being part of the Urban Park Service is that you get to do a little bit of everything in your job. You are a teacher, a peacekeeper, a naturalist, a forester, a problem-solver, a tour guide, a protector, and an activist."

"We are particularly proud of this group of recruits that has been trained not only by Parks & Recreation staff, but also by professionals from the New York City Police Department, the Fire Department of New York, the Coast Guard Auxiliary and other outstanding agencies," said Chief Brash after the graduation. "We feel these recent additions to our ranks are eminently qualified and we are proud to have them as the ambassadors in our parks."

The Urban Park Service Academy training program consisted of both classroom training and field work. Strength, agility, and endurance were emphasized in the training. Team building exercises were conducted to promote and develop trust and communication among the officers. Recruits learned First Aid, studied environmental issues, and were trained in issues such as firearms safety and cultural awareness. The training was conducted by Deputy Inspector Robert Reeves, Sergeant Dennis Annunziato, Corporal Pete Rosado, and Corporal Michael Mui.

Training also was provided by representatives of the New York City Police Department, the Fire Department of New York, Manhattan’s District Attorney’s Office, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Department of Finance, the Department of Homeless Services, and others.

Congratulations to the recent graduates of the Urban Park Service Academy: Richard Alvarado, Ricardo Amorocho, Anthony Archino, Brian Bast, Edward Banks, Gina Berdecia, Chatory Brown, Martha Case, Gustavo Cipollone, Michael Corrigan, Candace Cox, Robert Cruz, Kristy DiCario, Antony Fiore, Carla Gonzalez, Scarlett Rose Grauberg, Elizabeth Green, Louis Guertin, Michael Jackman, Daniel Keating, Adrienne Johnson, Jessica Kratz, Felicia Legier, William Martinez, Terrence McClenahan, Bonnie McGuire, Leslie Niblack, Sheridan Roberts, Damon Rollins, Eduardo Rosario, Gladys Ruiz, Oscar Sanabria, William Schmidt, Richard Schreiber, Susan Stanley, Tashad Thompson, William Tolan, Alfredo Tuse, Andres Valencia, Bruce Victome, Daniel Wong.

"In the final analysis there is no solution to man's progress

but the day's honest work, the day's honest decisions,

the day's generous utterances and the day's good deed."

Clare Booth Luce

(1903-1987)

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