Three Frankfort Police Department officers officially graduated from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy to continue their dedication to the safety of the Frankfort community.
Officer Jayce Moore, Officer Reece Mitchell and Officer Ramsey Mitchell were announced as graduates of the 233rd Basic Indiana Law Enforcement Academy class on Friday evening after studying and being tested on numerous law enforcement topics over the 16-week course. Following their graduation, the three officers will return to the Frankfort community to finish their field training.
“Please join us in congratulating these officers on their incredible accomplishment,” the department released. “We are excited to have them back in Frankfort as they continue their journey to protect and serve.”
– Photo courtesy of FPD
Frankfort Police Department Swears In Three New Officers by Carl Gingerich on Dec. 29, 2023:
The Frankfort Police Department swore in three new police officers today who will begin their training with the department on Jan. 3.
Jayce Moore, Reece Mitchell and Ramsey Mitchell began the process for employment with the Police Department in July before undergoing a rigorous application process that led to their swearing-in this Friday. The officers will spend around a week and a half training with the command team at the department before receiving their badges and firearms, which will allow the officers to begin on-duty training. The officers are expected to attend the police academy for 16 weeks, which Chief Scott Shoemaker commented would likely occur during the summer months of 2024. Shoemaker stated that the officers will be placed on solo patrol after around 10 months from their start date on Jan. 3.
“It was a long process the last six months to find the right individuals to serve our city, so we’re grateful that they chose to apply here,” Shoemaker said. “Every Police Department is hiring right now, so we’re really grateful that they came here and chose us. I can’t say enough about them for doing that. The fact that they’re all Hot Dogs and Frankfort graduates and they’re going to come back to serve the community, that’s a great blessing for the citizens to have that.”
Moore commented that the swearing-in ceremony was a momentous occasion for all three officers, and he stated that becoming an officer within his hometown and being given the duty to protect those that he has connected with for his whole life is an honor.
“I’m feeling really excited,” Moore said. “The reason I wanted to join the Police Department was because I just wanted to serve my community. I grew up here. I’ve lived here. I interact with the community, so I just wanted to do something to improve the community and help the community in any way I could.”
Reece Mitchell expressed that the swearing-in was a dream come true for him, and he was excited to be sworn into his dream career alongside his brother who walked alongside him in his pursuit of becoming an officer.
“I’m very excited–this has been a dream of mine for a long time,” Reece Mitchell said. “I wanted to be a police officer when I was 16. I went on my first ride-along with–at the time–Sergeant Hall. Ever since then, I knew it’s what I wanted to do. It’s an ever changing job. There’s so much to learn and so much to give. I want to give back to my community where I grew up. There’s so many officers that have been a mentor to me, and that opportunity to be a mentor for somebody else alongside my brother is an awesome feeling, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Ramsey Mitchell echoed his brother’s statements, commenting on the excitement that filled the air at the Frankfort Police Department as he was sworn-in alongside his brother and with his family surrounding him, making a childhood dream a reality.
“I’m very excited today to be sworn-in alongside my brother,” Ramsey Mitchell said. “We’ve known Shoemaker for a long time, and he’s known that this is what we’ve wanted to do ever since we were young. Today is just such a surreal moment, and I’m just really excited to start.”
Frankfort Mayor Judy Sheets stated that hiring the three new officers was a welcomed celebration for the city as the new officers show promise that will translate into years of dedicated service to ensure the safety of the Frankfort community.
“I think they bring a lot to the table, and we have a great command staff along with great leadership, so I want them to be assured that we’re going to offer them the training, equipment and of course the new facility that I think is very important,” Sheets said. “They’re younger, but I think that’s good. I’m excited just to see what they have to bring to the Police Department. I know it’s going to be a great experience for them.”
The officers will begin their training with the command team beginning Jan. 3 with on-duty training beginning around a week and a half later.