Kokomo swears in three recruit police officers

At an afternoon ceremony at the Kokomo Police Department, Mayor Tyler Moore administered the oath of office to three new recruit officers — Lainie Arms (badge 480), Elijah Harris (badge 481) and Trenton Rawls (badge 482) — formally adding them to the department’s sworn ranks. Assistant Chief Brian Sellen opened the event and Chaplain Jeff Russell offered prayers before and after the swearing-in.

The recruits were presented with badges by current department officers, and Lieutenant Charlie Fortgiller read the law enforcement code of ethics to the assembled audience. Mayor Tyler Moore said, "I love days like this. I love days like this. As chief mentioned, one of my priorities, if not the top priority, of this administration has been to support our first responders, both both police and fire." The mayor thanked the recruits’ families for their support and said the city looks forward to the officers’ service.

The oath recited by the recruits included pledges to support and defend "the constitutions of the United States of America and the state of Indiana" and to uphold city ordinances "to the best of my skills and ability. So help me God." Assistant Chief Brian Sellen introduced the recruits and described the ceremony as “a wonderful day for our city, our police department, and these 3, recruit officers and their families.”

Recruit bios announced during the ceremony stated that all three graduated from the Indiana University Police Academy in August 2025 and are attending Indiana University Kokomo, with bachelor’s degrees expected in December 2025. The ceremony remarks listed prior education and interests: Arms was identified as from Tipton, Indiana, a 2022 high school graduate; Harris was raised in Kokomo and graduated from Taylor High School in 2022; Rawls graduated from Eastern High School in 2022.

Lieutenant Charlie Fortgiller read the department’s code of ethics, beginning: "As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind. To safeguard lives and property, to protect innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence and disorder, and to respect the constitutional rights of all men to liberty, equality, and justice." Major Scott Pertit and Lieutenant Gary Quirk joined Fortgiller in presenting badges to the recruits.

Chaplain Jeff Russell offered an opening prayer that included the line, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God," and a closing prayer asking for protection and strength for the new officers and their families. In closing remarks directed to the recruits, department leaders urged professionalism and integrity; Assistant Chief Sellen told the recruits, "treat others the way you wanna be treated." The ceremony concluded with an invitation for photographs.

This event formalizes the appointment of three new sworn officers to the Kokomo Police Department and includes the customary badge presentation and recitation of departmental ethics; no votes or policy decisions were taken at the ceremony.