The Suffolk Police Department’s numbers grew by three recently, with the graduation of Hampton Roads Criminal Justice Training Academy’s Basic Law Enforcement class.

While at the academy, the new officers received training that included firearms, driving, defensive tactics, accident investigation, criminal and traffic laws, patrol techniques and first aid and CPR.

These officers have returned to the department and are currently attending five weeks of in-house training. Once the classroom portion is complete, the officers will complete several weeks of field training with Field Training Officers.

The new officers are Jesse A. Epperson, Michael Holman and Tim Johnson.

Epperson is originally from Suffolk. He is the son of Mark and Susan Epperson. The 21-year-old chose the Suffolk Police Department because he wanted to make a difference in the city where he grew up.

Epperson said he thinks the

biggest challenge he will face will be sometimes seeing people at their worst. He said he hopes to spend his entire career with the Suffolk Police Department. He recently became engaged to Kerri Brown.

Holman, 38,

is from Troy, Mo., but currently resides in Chesapeake with his wife Helen and 14-year-old daughter, Heather. Holman spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy and chose the Suffolk Police Deparment because he liked the small town feel as compared to other Hampton Roads cities.

In Holman’s spare time he still volunteers with Virginia Beach Emergency Services.

Johnson

is from Key West, Fla. The 30-year-old said he chose the Suffolk Police Department because he felt that it was a proactive police department with strong community involvement. The former Marine was a military K-9 officer who served two combat tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Johnson, his wife, Rachelle, and daughters Mackenzie, 4, and Abby, 2, live in Suffolk.

In an effort to add even more officers, the Department will be holding a Recruitment Fair on Saturday, Dec. 9 at its Sector Two Precinct.

The Recruitment Fair and Open House will be held from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at 3901 Bridge Road.

Attendees of Saturday’s event will be able to learn more about the Suffolk Police Department, pick up application packages as well as see demonstrations from the department’s K-9 Unit, Dive Team, Critical Incident Response Team and Forensic Unit.

Members of the department will also be holding a food drive at the event, with all donations going to the Southeastern Virginia Food Bank.

For more information contact Lt. Steve Patterson at 757-514-7951.