Three join Albany Police Department ranks | PHOTO GALLERY

ALBANY — Three more officers formally joined the Albany Police Department during a swearing in and pinning ceremony on Monday evening.

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Jeremiah Phillips, Mark Mitchell and Kenneth Schlegel were pinned and given a ceremonial oath of office in front of family, friends and the APD executive command staff at the department’s Law Enforcement Center in downtown Albany.

After Deputy Chief Mark Scott opened the ceremony, the remainder of the command staff came in ahead of the colors. Following a recognition of guests and introduction of the recent additions, APD Chief Michael Persley was assisted by Sgt. Ernest Thompson of the APD Support Services Bureau in the presentation of badges.

After the oath of office was led by Persley, family members of Phillips, Mitchell and Schlegel were given the opportunity to pin their loved ones and pose for photo opportunities marking the new achievement.

Before closing out the evening with refreshments, Persley gave some remarks congratulating the new officers, as well as giving a few words of wisdom to the officers as well as their families.

“Twenty-one years ago when I started, they (my family) had a fit when I went through with it … but when I graduated from the academy they were excited,” the chief said. “They (the new officers) are going to go through some roller coaster days, because they will see things they have not seen before.”

Persley encouraged the officers to remain true to themselves, keep the lines of communication open with their families and treat members of the community — and their co-workers — with respect and honesty while meeting the objective of maintaining order.

“Even if it’s a murder, you might not like them, but when we get them in handcuffs and in the interview room we respect them,” he said.

“If it were your family member, how would you want the police to treat them? Think about that.”

To the loved ones present, the chief encouraged accountability. This means making sure they continue to put family first.

“Hold them accountable when they don’t take time off when they should have,” he said.