Lieutenant William Handley, Officer Brandon Shiramizu, Officer Eduardo Pico, Deputy Executive Director of Public Safety David L. Maggard Jr., Officer Zhaoqing, Jonathan Vallejo, Officer Aubin Corbin,
Captain Michael Scolaro

Photos by CSI Officer Shawn Smith

(Los Angeles, California - August 30, 2019)  The largest aviation law enforcement agency in the nation just got a little bigger.  Pride and excitement is all that shadowed the crowd from the golden sun in the rolling hills of the LAPD Academy in Elysian Park.  

Today, 35 graduates of the LAPD academy received their diplomas and will begin a life of service in public safety.  Among the graduates are five new Airport Police Officers, Officer Brandon Shiramizu a Kinesiology major from California State University Monterey Bay and police academy recipient of the Tina Kerbrat award for most inspirational recruit. Rounding out the new officers is Officer Aubin Corbin, a former LA County Sheriff's Security Officer; Officer Eduardo Pico a former USDA Forest Service technician; Officer Jonathan Vallejo a Political Science graduate of California State University Long Beach and former Long Beach Airport security officer; and lastly Officer Zhaoqing Yang a California State University Los Angeles graduate in Criminal Justice and Marine Corps veteran. 
   
Surrounded by family and friends Deputy Executive Director of Public Safety and Chief of Airport Police David L. Maggard Jr. addressed his five new officers.  "Today is a proud day for you and your family and while it may feel like a pinnacle in your career it is really just the first of many ridges.  The difference is that to this point you have made your journey alone from now on you travel as a team.  Welcome to the Airport Police family," said Maggard. 

The five new officers' responsibilities will include patrolling Los Angeles International Airport, the number two busiest airport in the country and number four busiest airport in the world. Monday they begin a post academy training followed by a six-month Field Training Program specific to aviation law enforcement under the guidance of a Field Training Officer.  Upon completion, they will be assigned to the Patrol Services Section.

In addition to 550 sworn officers, Los Angeles Airport Police Division also employs 430 security officers and nearly 200 civilian professional staff. As the largest aviation law enforcement agency in the nation, Airport Police patrols and secures Los Angeles International Airport, the nation’s second busiest and world’s fourth busiest airport, and Van Nuys general aviation airport.