Lexington PD welcomes 15 new officers after 26-week academy graduation
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — The Lexington Police Department expanded its ranks Friday as 15 new officers were sworn in by Mayor Linda Gorton following completion of a rigorous 26-week training academy.
The recruit class began with 25 trainees. Over the course of the program, they covered everything from defensive tactics and firearms qualification to community policing and mental-health response. Officer Geraldyn Navarro, a Lexington native, described the experience as “one of the toughest things I’ve ever been through,” and admitted there were moments she considered quitting. “Thankfully, with the help of my classmates and our instructors, they kept pushing me,” she said. “They reminded me this is where I was meant to be.”
Not all graduates are new to law enforcement. Officer Jacob Wright served as a patrolman in North Carolina before relocating to Lexington with his wife. “The academy was just as hard, if not harder, the second time around,” he said. “But overall, the job is fun. You never know what to expect—it keeps you on your toes, and I’m proud to serve this wonderful community.”
Navarro added that policing her hometown carries special meaning. “It’s a blessing to protect the community I grew up in—and to be a representation for its residents,” she said.
