Chief Mike Cantaloupe administered the Oath of Office to two new officers on Monday. Chris Delgado, 22 and Nicholas Hall, 23 accepted the oath before a small crowd of family, friends and police command staff during a brief special ceremony held in the Council Chambers at City Hall. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)
BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA – Chief Mike Cantaloupe administered the Oath of Office to two new officers on Monday.
Chris Delgado, 22 and Nicholas Hall, 23 accepted the oath before a small crowd of family, friends and police command staff during a brief special ceremony held in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
The two new officers will spend approximately three months in the Field Training Officer program where they will learn the department’s policies and procedures before being deployed to solo patrol duties on a full-time basis.
Chris Delgado came to Cocoa from Palm Beach County. He graduated from the Academy at Palm Beach State College in 2013.
Michael Cantaloupe
“We are so happy to have these officers on our team,” Chief Cantaloupe said.
“I’m confident they will do great things to help with our overall mission of protecting and serving the citizens of Cocoa and improving the overall quality of life here.”
“I wanted to come to Cocoa because I saw this agency as one where I had the most opportunity to grow and make a positive difference,” Officer Delgado said. “I can’t wait to get started. It’s been a long time coming.”
Nicholas Hall is from Palm Bay and graduated from the Academy at Eastern Florida State College in 2014. He says he is looking forward to the opportunities to participate in SWAT and K-9 operations as well as routine patrol duties.
“It’s an honest job and I’m looking forward to doing what I can to help people,” Officer Hall stated.
Once deployed, the officers will bring the total manpower to 69 sworn positions.
Efforts to recruit additional candidates continues as the department anticipates additional vacancies due to upcoming retirements.
“I think it’s safe to say we are looking at the possibility of losing as many as six or more officers to retirement just in the next year,” Cantaloupe added.
Chief Mike Cantaloupe administered the Oath of Office to two new officers on Monday. Chris Delgado, 22 and Nicholas Hall, 23 accepted the oath before a small crowd of family, friends and police command staff during a brief special ceremony held in the Council Chambers at City Hall. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)Chief Mike Cantaloupe administered the Oath of Office to two new officers on Monday. Chris Delgado, 22 and Nicholas Hall, 23 accepted the oath before a small crowd of family, friends and police command staff during a brief special ceremony held in the Council Chambers at City Hall. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)
