Family, friends and UCF Police Department officers and staff welcomed seven new members to the department at a swearing-in ceremony earlier this month.

The six new patrol officers include prior law enforcement experience, military veterans and even a current UCF student, along with a few alumni. Deputy Chief Robin Griffin-Kitzerow was sworn in with the group but officially started her duties in mid-March.

“This group represents the best of the best,” says UCFPD Chief Carl Metzger ’03MS. “Their intelligence, decision-making abilities, physical and mental fitness, and hearts for service truly make them special.”

At their swearing-in ceremony, Metzger emphasized the importance of hiring the right individuals and reflected on his goals for the agency.

“We pride ourselves on excellence and being the most professional, progressive and innovative campus police department in the country,” Metzger says. “I think we are, but it’s because of the people. And our new officers are right up to the standards, the high standards, that we set and work with every day.”

The new officers are:

  • Cameron Hall, a Maitland native who previously served with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office and is a U.S. Army veteran.
  • Anthony Mancuso ’17, a UCF integrated business alum and former Parking and Transportation employee who is currently pursuing a second bachelor’s degree in computer engineering.
  • Miranda McDaniel, a Georgia native who joins UCFPD after serving with the Lake Mary Police Department and working at Kennesaw State University.
  • Andrea Negron ’19, a UCF alum with a bachelor’s in legal studies and minor in criminal justice who formerly worked with UCF Athletics.
  • Heriberto Rivera, an Oviedo, Florida, native who served with the Winter Garden Police Department and is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.
  • Isabella Sanchez, a first-generation Colombian American and current student at UCF majoring in criminal justice.

The six officers recently completed their classroom training and are on the road patrolling the main campus. They will spend several weeks paired with senior officers to receive hands-on experience out in the field before graduating to solo patrol.

A live-stream of the ceremony can be viewed here.