The Bermuda Police Service officially welcomed its nine newest members at the Passing Out Ceremony yesterday.

Described as a “unique group”, the police constables from Recruit Foundation Course 77 were all graduating police cadets.

“I’m very happy, ecstatic really,” Jordan Basden, who was awarded the Baton of Honour for being the best all around student officer, told The Royal Gazette. “It’s a lifelong dream.”

Pc Basden said he seized the opportunity to join the Cadets after high school because he wanted a career.

He said he “most definitely” wants to continue with the BPS, adding that “it is a very fulfilling and worthwhile career”.

Tavin Trott, who was presented with the Academic Award, said: “It feels very good, very surprising. I didn’t expect to be number one in the academic field.”

Pc Trott scored 100 per cent on five out of six exams and his overall average of 98.66 per cent was the highest to date on a foundation course.

He said he joined the BPS for his family — he is the first in his family to become a police officer — to help his community and his country, and because he enjoys a challenge.

Joining Pc Trott and Pc Basden were Justice McDermot, Crai’-Che Hall, Aisha Hendrickson, Akelah Hendrickson, Sheri Scott, D’Vario Thompson and Maya Tucker.

Inspector Charlene Thompson, who heads the training centre, said “each of them has exhibited the qualities required by the demands and challenges of a career in the Bermuda Police Service”.

“This unique group of officers is the first in many years to consist of all graduating cadets from the Bermuda Police Service Cadet Programme, which they all commenced approximately three years ago,” she added.

Ms Thompson also stressed that policing in Bermuda is a “unique and challenging” career, “especially in today’s climate”.

But she said the new PCs “are determined to be the best police officers they can possibly be”.

In closing the ceremony, Acting Commissioner Paul Wright acknowledged the new officers, their families and the training centre staff.

He said the new officers deserved the spotlight, noting that they had “served as cadets through challenging years as the police service led the effort to make Bermuda safer in the face of unprecedented gun and gang violence.

“You already possess valuable experience in policing and all of you know what you are letting yourself in for,” he added. After the parade, Mr Wright said the group was a testimony to the cadet programme and also noted Pc Trott’s high academic achievement, “which has never been done before”.

“We are very happy — it’s an all Bermudian course, all Bermudian cadets,” he said, adding they are all officers “with great potential for the future”.

The ceremony took place at Police Headquarters in Prospect, Devonshire, and Michael Dunkley, the Premier, Ginny Ferson, the Acting Governor, and Senator Jeffrey Baron, the Minister of National Security, were among those in attendance.

Mrs Ferson, who was “very pleased to see such a strong female representation”, presented the officers with certificates and spoke of “how immensely proud she was” when her sister joined the police 35 years ago.

“I certainly hope that you will choose the Bermuda Police Service as your long-term career,” she said. “I hope you will embrace the learning and development opportunities it offers and will rise through the ranks.”

And Mr Baron, who “marched onto the same piece of pavement” 21 years ago, handed out the male and female sports awards. Both awards for the fastest 10km run and best all around athletes went to Pc McDermot and Pc Thompson.