A bumper crop of new hires, including a sergeant and three police officers, was sworn in to the San Bernardino City Unified School District Police Department on Tuesday, July 25, boosting efforts to provide a safe learning environment for students.
The oath was administered to 10 new employees, ranging from cadets who will handle department clerical duties and special assignments like DUI checkpoints, to two public safety dispatchers, including Sierra High School graduate Jessica Garay.
Garay, 26, who previously worked as a District instructional aide, will no longer keep a watchful eye on children. Instead, she will work diligently to ensure the department’s police officers are safe as they keep District students, staff, and the community out of danger.
“Being a dispatcher is a great responsibility,” Garay said. “I’m like a mother duck. I have to make sure I know where all my officers are and that they’re doing well and are safe.”
For Garay, who grew up in San Bernardino, this new job is an opportunity to give back to her community.
“It’s exciting to have grown up in this city and understand the demographics and the challenges our students face,” Garay said. “It’s a fulfilling job because I’m helping the community I grew up in.”
Swearing in two former SBCUSD students is also rewarding for District Police Chief Joseph Paulino because he’s not only seeing his department grow but also giving career opportunities to former students.
“This creates new opportunities for members of our San Bernardino community to join our police force,” Paulino said. “We’re grateful to the Personnel Commission for helping us fill much-needed jobs.”
The Personnel Commission is an independent body that oversees the recruitment and testing of school district employees in non-teaching and non-administrative positions to ensure that individuals are hired based on merit.
In addition to Garay, sworn in Tuesday were Sgt. John Guttierez; police officers Dominic Rogers, Alberto Sandoval, and Jessica Segovia, who was promoted from public safety dispatcher; public safety dispatcher Ardith Castillo; school police clerk Oni Jimenez; cadets Breyman Lopez, Nestor Sosa, and Hunter Washburn, and volunteer Arturo Ochoa.
Segovia, also a product of SBCUSD schools and a graduate of Pacific High, credits Paulino with mentoring her while she attended the San Bernardino Valley College Extended Academy.
“I’m so proud to serve here,” said Segovia, whose late father was a law enforcement officer in his native Durango, Mexico. “I’m returning a favor to the community that raised me. Now it’s my turn to help raise the youth.”