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Mayor Tyler Moore administers oath to three new Kokomo police officers
Summary
At a Kokomo Police Department ceremony, Mayor Tyler Moore swore in Jacob McKay, Braden Moomaw and Ethan Radcliffe. Department leaders and Chaplain Jeff Russell offered remarks, the law‑enforcement code of ethics was recited, and families were invited to celebrate.
KOKOMO — Mayor Tyler Moore administered the oath of office at a ceremony at the Kokomo Police Department as three recruits were sworn in and welcomed to the force.
The chief introduced the new officers by reading short biographies: Officer Jacob McKay, who was born in Kokomo, served four years in the Marines and worked in private security; Officer Braden Moomaw, born and raised in Kokomo and most recently employed as a merchandiser for a Coca‑Cola bottling company and an assistant varsity baseball coach; and Officer Ethan Radcliffe, born in Fort Wayne, a Carroll County resident since 2014 and a student at Indiana University Kokomo who has worked as a landscaping foreman. The chief invited family and friends to the stage and asked the recruits to step forward for the oath and badge presentation.
"You're being welcomed — that they got your back, that you got their back," Mayor Tyler Moore said in brief congratulatory remarks, thanking the recruits' families and the community for their support. He then administered the oath, and the officers repeated the pledge to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the State of Indiana" and to discharge their duties impartially under city ordinances and state law.
Lieutenant Charlie Forkiller recited the department's law‑enforcement code of ethics, beginning with: "As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind, to safeguard lives and property and protect the innocent..." He emphasized respecting constitutional rights, avoiding improper influence and never accepting gratuities.
Retired officer Gary McKay presented a badge to Jacob McKay; Lieutenant Forkiller and Captain Zach Rodman presented the other badges. The chief spoke to recruits about what their name tag, department patch and badge symbolize and urged them to remember the day as they begin training and early field service.
Chaplain Jeff Russell opened and closed the ceremony with prayers asking for protection and blessing for the officers and their families. The chief closed the program by inviting attendees to remain for photos with the recruits and administrative staff.
No departmental policies, disciplinary actions or formal votes were taken during the ceremony; the event was an oath and badge presentation and concluded with remarks, prayers and photographs.
