Toledo Police Department welcomes 25 new officers

Former Blade reporter and Cadet Taylor Dungjen apprehends her son, Milan, before the 63rd Toledo Police Academy graduation ceremony at Bowsher High School.

The Blade/Andy Morrison
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Toledo police Chief George Kral advised the 25 newest officers to act with humbleness and sincerity as they carry out the duties of their new profession.

Detective Norm Cairl hugs his son Zachary Cairl after presenting him his badge during the 63rd Toledo Police Academy graduation ceremony at Bowsher High School Friday.

The city’s 25 new police officers — members of the department’s 63rd academy — graduated today after completing six months of training. They celebrated the achievement at a ceremony in a packed Bowsher High School auditorium.

Police are expected to make the right decisions every time, and law enforcement officers are a visible representation of government, said Chief Kral. 

“Honestly, policing doesn't even remotely resemble what it did just 20 years ago. Thankfully, the errors of the past have turned into the wisdom of today,” he said.

Last year, Toledo police responded to about 215,000 calls for service to 911. 

“You can change the storyline of TPD's relationship with the public at every encounter. You will actually be writing the narrative of TPD,” Chief Kral said.

The officers will next be on probation for a year. That period includes about four months of field training with a veteran officer.

This class is comprised of 16 white men, four black men, and one biracial man, white woman, black woman, Hispanic woman, and Asian woman. Among the graduates is former Blade reporter Taylor Dungjen. 

Former Blade reporter and Cadet Taylor Dungjen apprehends her son, Milan, before the 63rd Toledo Police Academy graduation ceremony at Bowsher High School.

With these newly graduated, there are 602 sworn Toledo police officers, spokesman Lt. Joe Heffernan said.

Bob Whitman, 77, traveled from Marysville, Ohio to show support at the ceremony for his grandson, Officer Scott Histed. The new officer accompanied Toledo police on ride-alongs as a teenager, and always wanted to join the department, he said.

“It's nice to see when young people achieve academically as well as physically in a program that's highly respected,” Mr. Whitman said.

The next police academy class is expected to begin Aug. 4 with 40 officers in training.

Contact Ryan Dunn at: rdunn@theblade.com, 419-724-6095, or on Twitter @rdunnblade.