The Odessa Police Department hosted the graduation ceremony for the Odessa Police Academy Friday afternoon at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. In total, seven officers and two fire marshals graduated through the 23rd session of the academy with one graduate’s ceremony ending in a marriage proposal.
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Odessa Police Academy graduates chat together before the start of their graduation ceremony Friday afternoon at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.(Eli Hartman/Odessa American)
Odessa Police Department’s Sergeant Tommy Jones prepares badges for a photo before the start of the Odessa Police Academy’s 23rd Graduation Ceremony Friday afternoon at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.(Eli Hartman/Odessa American)
Odessa Police Academy graduate Christopher Torres, second from right, jokes around with his fellow graduates before the start of their graduation ceremony Friday afternoon at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.(Eli Hartman/Odessa American)
Odessa Police Department Public Relations Manager Monica Quintero, right, takes a group photo of the 23rd graduating class of the Odessa Police Academy before the start of their graduation ceremony Friday afternoon at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.(Eli Hartman/Odessa American)
Roman LeBlanc, 7, peers over a chair at his father as they wait to start the Odessa Police Academy graduation ceremony Friday afternoon at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.(Eli Hartman/Odessa American)
Odessa Police Department Chief Michael Gerke, left, presents Odessa Police Academy graduate Joseph Limon with the ‘Best Defensive Tactics’ award during their graduation ceremony Friday afternoon at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.(Eli Hartman/Odessa American)
Odessa Police Department Chief Michael Gerke, left, presents Odessa Police Academy graduate Chance Gladden with their certificate during their graduation ceremony Friday afternoon at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.(Eli Hartman/Odessa American)
Odessa Police Academy graduate Chance Gladden’s daughter Genesis, left, poses for a photo as his wife pins his badge during his class’ graduation ceremony Friday afternoon at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.(Eli Hartman/Odessa American)
Odessa Fire Rescue Chief John Alvarez, left, presents a fire marshal badge to Lorenzo Rivas Jr., right, to pin on his son Lorenzo Rivas III during the Odessa Police Academy graduation ceremony Friday afternoon at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.(Eli Hartman/Odessa American)
Jeff Thomas, center, has his fire marshal badge pinned by his wife Jackie during the graduation ceremony for the 23rd session of the Odessa Police Academy Friday afternoon at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.(Eli Hartman/Odessa American)
Odessa Police Academy graduate Cameron Limon, left, has his badge pinned by his father Oscar during his graduation ceremony Friday afternoon at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.(Eli Hartman/Odessa American)
Odessa Police Academy graduate Cameron Limon, center left, drops to a knee as he proposes to his girlfriend Mariah Lujan during his graduation ceremony Friday afternoon at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. Lujan said yes to the proposal during the ceremony.(Eli Hartman/Odessa American)
Odessa Police Academy graduate Cameron Limon, center left, slides an engagement ring onto his fiancee Mariah Lujan’s finger after proposing during his graduation ceremony Friday afternoon at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.(Eli Hartman/Odessa American)
Odessa Police Department Chief Michale Gerke, left, swears in seven new officers following their Odessa Police Academy graduation ceremony Friday afternoon, Jan. 28, 2022, at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.(Eli Hartman/Odessa American)
Odessa Fire Rescue Chief John Alvarez, left, swears in two new fire marshals following their Odessa Police Academy graduation ceremony Friday afternoon at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.(Eli Hartman/Odessa American)
Odessa Police Academy graduate Jeff Thomas bows his head as he waits with his fellow graduates in parade rest before the start of their graduation ceremony Friday afternoon at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.(Eli Hartman/Odessa American)
Chance Gladden salutes the American flag during the Pledge of Allegiance before the start of their Odessa Police Academy Graduation ceremony Friday afternoon at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.(Eli Hartman/Odessa American)
Odessa Police Department Chief Michael Gerke gives his opening remarks at the start of the Odessa Police Academy graduation ceremony Friday afternoon at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.(Eli Hartman/Odessa American)
Odessa Police Department Graduate Hector Gutierrez gives his recruit speech as the president of his graduating class during the 23rd Odessa Police academy graduation ceremony Friday afternoon at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.(Eli Hartman/Odessa American)
Odessa Police Department Chief Michael Gerke, left, poses for a photo with Odessa Police Academy graduate Hector Gutierrez and his wife Erica Hernandez during the 23rd OPA graduation ceremony Friday afternoon at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.(Eli Hartman/Odessa American)
