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The Alexandria Police Department welcomed 26 recruit officers who graduated from the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy Basic Law Enforcement School on Dec. 21. The recruits spent approximately 20 weeks in training at the regional academy, covering topics such as community policing, emergency vehicle operation, firearms training, defensive tactics, crash investigation and basic legal training. Numerous Alexandria Police Department recruits received performance-based awards or broke academy physical fitness records during the 135th session: Matthew Beinhauer, 3rd place Emergency Vehicle Operations Center; Benjamin Berlin, Session 135 Class President Chris Dannenfelser, vertical jump record; Alexis Gomez; Andrew Harrell; Travis Jones, 1st place Emergency Vehicle Operations Center; Ryan Klein; Westrick McILvanie, 1st place Firearms; Anthony Mitchell; John Moorman; Michael Oliver, III-2nd place Fitness; Oscar Olland-Thomas Shaw Award, Session 135 Class Vice-President; Sarah Parker; Peter Prunty; Kirill Schipanov; John Stafford; Virgil Usana; Colton Vanderah; Jamie Lee Victor-300 meter run record, plank record; Rodney Villanueva; Jacob Wachter; Shakita Warren; Suzanne Watts, 3rd place Academics, Session 135 Class Vice-President; Joseph Winkler; and Justin Zackaria. Recruit officers will partner and train with experienced patrol officers for an additional 12 weeks before working independently as solo patrol officers.