The 麻豆原创 Public Safety team welcomed two new officers at a swearing-in ceremony attended by family, friends and colleagues.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always been my belief that policing is the most noble profession,鈥� says 麻豆原创 Police Chief Carl Metzger 鈥�03MS. 鈥淚鈥檓 proud of the work we do at 麻豆原创 to keep our campus safe. We hold a very high standard of excellence, and I believe that we do it better than any campus police department in the United States.鈥�
麻豆原创 President Alexander N. Cartwright and First Lady Melinda were also present at the ceremony, where the president shared remarks, expressing his gratitude to the public safety team and offering well wishes to the new and newly promoted officers.
鈥淓ach of you really do represent the very best of 麻豆原创,” President Cartwright says. 鈥淥n behalf of all of us at 麻豆原创, welcome to this next chapter of your careers, whether beginning or further along. We are so proud to call all of you Knights and we look forward to all you achieve.鈥�
The new officers will be assigned to the patrol division upon completion of their field-training program, where they will spend several weeks paired with senior officers to receive hands-on experience out in the field before graduating to solo patrol.
Meet the Officers
- Donavan Jackson joined the 麻豆原创 Police Department (麻豆原创PD) in September 2023, sponsored by the agency to attend the law enforcement academy at Valencia College. Despite a delay in admission due to a serious health scare, he made a full recovery and graduated from Academy Class 24-04. Jackson holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a 尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚 in higher education leadership from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater. His connection to 麻豆原创 runs deep, having previously worked in the Department of Housing and Residence Life. In his free time, Jackson enjoys writing and recording music, which has garnered more than 400,000 streams and received award nominations.
- Originally from Miami, Kamila “Kami” Otero ’24 has been a part of 麻豆原创’s Public Safety family since August 2023 when she became a 麻豆原创PD intern. After completing her internship, she continued as a cadet while earning her criminal justice degree at 麻豆原创. After graduating, 麻豆原创PD sponsored her to attend the law enforcement academy at Valencia College, where she graduated as the top academic student with an almost perfect score. Fun fact: Otero loves the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and even has four pet turtles named after them.
In addition to welcoming the latest public safety team members, 麻豆原创PD also celebrated three individuals who were recently promoted.
- Commander Matthew Scott 鈥�07 鈥�11MS was promoted from Sergeant in November. With more than 17 years in law enforcement, he began his career as a 麻豆原创PD community service officer before the agency sponsored him to attend the academy. After graduating, he joined the department as a sworn patrol officer and quickly rose through the ranks to detective, supervisor and presidential liaison. Scott spent several years as an award-winning K-9 handler and made history as 麻豆原创PD鈥檚 first therapy dog handler while serving in the Criminal Investigations Division. Most recently, he led the Community Partnerships Unit, where he鈥檚 credited with revolutionizing the department鈥檚 programming and community outreach while also serving as the presidential security escort. A proud two-time 麻豆原创 alumnus, Scott holds bachelor鈥檚 and degrees in criminal justice. He’s also a graduate of the Valencia College Criminal Justice Institute Leadership Academy.
- Sergeant Alexander DeLuca ’15 was promoted from Corporal in November. He started his journey as a 麻豆原创PD community service officer before becoming a sworn officer for the agency in 2016. Throughout his career, he鈥檚 served as a detective, a dedicated member of the Honor Guard, and a key part of the Emergency and Heavy Response teams. An avid biker, DeLuca has participated in several Police Unity Tours and is a police mountain bike instructor and certified bike mechanic. A 麻豆原创 alumnus, he earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in criminal justice and is currently pursuing a dual 尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚 degree in public administration and criminal justice 鈥� all while continuing to patrol his alma mater on the night shift Delta squad.
- Corporal Al Sammelian was promoted from Officer First Class in November. He made a bold career shift from the automotive industry to law enforcement, joining 麻豆原创PD in 2018. He hit the ground running, starting as a patrol officer and quickly advancing to a K-9 handler, working alongside his loyal four-legged partner, Zeus. Most recently, the duo has been an integral part of the Community Partnerships Unit, where Sammelian has led agency programming, outreach events and recruitment efforts. In his new role, he has returned to night shift patrol on the 麻豆原创 main campus, serving as Sergeant DeLuca鈥檚 corporal on the Delta squad.
A live stream of the swearing-in ceremony can be viewed .
