DRPS Welcomes 18 New Recruits

On Tuesday, November 18, the Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) proudly welcomed 18 new recruits during a graduation ceremony in Ajax. The ceremony featured the DRPS Pipes and Drums and the DRPS Choir, as family and friends gathered to celebrate this milestone achievement.

Chief Peter Moreira formally welcomed the graduating class and presented each officer with their badge and a challenge coin engraved with the Oath of Office and presented to each recruit prior to the ceremony as a reminder of this oath and the trust placed in each of them by the community they serve.

The recruits went on to recite their Declaration of Membership, affirming their dedication to serve with integrity and respect. Constable Sara Rutkowski, chosen as valedictorian, delivered genuine  remarks on behalf of the class, thanking families for their unwavering support and emphasizing the importance that the recruits look out for one another as they embark on their careers as police officers.

Chief Moreira also shared words of guidance for the new officers: “Today you receive your badges, but it is the trust behind that badge that truly matters. Being a police officer is not simply a profession—it is a calling. Every day, you will interact with people who may be at their very best, or their very worst. In every one of those interactions, you have the opportunity to build trust—or break it. That trust is the foundation of effective policing. Guard it fiercely.”

Constable Kris Barclay was recognized with the Allan D. Christiansen Memorial Award, an honour voted on by his peers. The award highlights leadership, positivity, commitment to fitness, and dedication to volunteerism—qualities that reflect Allan D. Christiansen’s lasting legacy.

The newly sworn officers will now continue their journey with coach officers, gaining frontline experience across platoons throughout Durham Region.

We extend our congratulations and a warm welcome to the newest members of the DRPS family.