New Danville police officers graduate from community-focused program

The Danville Police Department celebrated new officers Friday who graduated from a program dubbed BRIDGE, which stands for Building Relationships, Inspiring Dialogue, Growing Engagement. Over the last four weeks, the officers learned about nonprofit organizations, businesses and the city’s history. As a service project, they remodeled a part of the Temporary Relief & Counseling Center at 625 Shelton St. and gave out food during an event there. The Rev. Willis J. Ferrell, who leads the nonprofit that also serves as a cooling and heating shelter, was one of the speakers at Friday’s graduation. Bryant Hood, a member of the Danville City Council, also addressed to the officers, who are Kymber Cook, Charlene Crews, Kenneth Evans, Craig Lichtenfeld, Joclyn Martin, Joshua Piedra, Christopher Pritchett, Colby Richardson, Matthew Stone and Robert Walters. The officers will now enter field training.