- April 19, 2024
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Officers Chelsey Palmer, Lauren Matero and Gabrielle Winstead all graduated from Port Orange high schools. They were in the same Class 92 at Basic Law Enforcement Academy at Daytona State College together. Photos by Brian McMillan
McKenna, 2, stands by her mother, Lauren Matero, as she is sworn in, alongside Gabrielle Winstead and Chelsey Palmer. Photos by Brian McMillan
Chelsey Palmer is pinned by her father, Jim Lynch. Photos by Brian McMillan
Family and friends celebrated with the three new officers.
City Commissioners Susan Persis and Dwight Selby, attended the ceremony. Photos by Brian McMillan
Chief Jesse Godfrey
Capt. Christopher Roos; Officers Gabrielle Winstead, Lauren Matero and Chelsey Palmer; and Chief Jesse Godfrey. Photos by Brian McMillan
Like every all-star mom, Lauren Matero was able to let her daughter join in the moment.
Matero, who was one of three young women sworn in as officers for the Ormond Beach Police Department in a ceremony on April 16, had an energetic cheering section: McKenna, age 2.
McKenna clutched her mother’s legs as Matero raised her right hand, alongside new officers Chelsey Palmer and Gabrielle Winstead.
Winstead became the youngest officer on the force, having graduated high school just last year.
Matero’s parents were both police officers, and her brother now serves with the Daytona Beach Police Department.
Palmer’s father, Jim Lynch, pinned her during the ceremony. He said his emotions were mixed: “Scared and proud. It’s a tough job. It’s an honorable job, but it’s tough.”
Chief Jesse Godfrey opened the ceremony, which was attended by more than a dozen officers, plus family members and city officials.
“There’s a lot going on in the world today in law enforcement,” said Godfrey, as the Derek Chauvin trial was making multiple headlines daily. He exhorted the three new officers to live by the OBPD mission statement: “To enhance the quality of life in the community and protect our citizens.”
“If you’re ever on the night shift, and you’re wondering why you took this job, I want you to refer to your mission statement, and that will keep you grounded,” he said. “Today is a challenging day to be a police officer … but there are a lot of good things in the world, so don’t let that get drowned out.”
He then gave the officers two rules that must be kept if they are to have successful careers. First: “Remember why you took this job. You wanted to do this job to help people.” Second: “Don’t ever tarnish the badge.”
Godfrey encouraged the three officers, who graduated from Class 92 of the Basic Law Enforcement Academy at Daytona State College together, to “do good police work. Make a positive difference. It’s that simple.”
Winstead believes women handle things differently from men, on a case by case basis, and Godfrey agreed, in an interview after the ceremony.
"We need women in law enforcement," Godfrey said. The police force "should be representative of our community."
Capt. Christopher Roos added, "For years, it's been a male-dominated profession. I love seeing more and more young ladies considering this as a career." His advice to the new recruits: "Be firm, fair and aware."
