Cocoa Police Swears in New Officers Trevor Denham, Christian Lind, and Rafael Benitez
By Space Coast Daily // August 30, 2020
All three new officers are in the midst of orientation and learning the department’s policies
BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA – Three new Cocoa police officers were recently sworn-in, including Trevor Denham, Christian Lind and Rafael Benitez.
Lind, 29, was born in Massachusetts but grew up in the Titusville area.
He has lived in Brevard County for 26 years and graduated with an associate degree in criminal justice from Eastern Florida State College in 2015. Lind later attended the Criminal Justice Academy at Seminole State College where he graduated in March of this year.
Lind has other family members serving in law enforcement in other jurisdictions.
Benitez, 26, was born and raised in Cuba and came to the U.S. in 2013 when he was 19 years old. He joined his family in Palm Bay where he has lived for more than seven years.
Benitez’s grandfather served in the U.S. Army for 23 years and also has family members serving in law enforcement in the Tampa area.
Denham, 34, is a Florida native, born in Bartow. He grew up mostly in Newport News, Virginia, and moved to Central Florida last year.
In 2012, Denham earned his associate degree in advanced technology in Virginia and graduated from the Daytona State College Criminal Justice Academy in June and is the first police officer in his family.
His parents reside in Volusia County and his siblings live in other cities around Florida.
All three new officers are in the midst of orientation and learning the department’s policies and procedures. They will then be assigned to a field training officer where they will begin operational training.
The complete process takes at least 4 to 5 months before the officer is able to be deployed for solo patrol.
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