CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A new officer has been added to the force of the Charleston Police Department.
Dozens of family, friends, and officer gathered inside Charleston City Hall at Council Chambers on Friday morning for the swearing-in of Cassie Johnson of Charleston to the CPD.
“It’s been a dream of mine for a while and I am happy to see it come to fruition,” Johnson said. “I’ve been working extremely hard over the last year to get ready for it. I am really happy to finally getting to follow my dreams in working with Charleston PD. I am able to work with a great group of guys and help out the city.”
Johnson, 26, was the first officer sworn in by new Charleston mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin and Charleston Police Chief Opie Smith. She is a lifelong Charleston native and has worked as a humane officer for the past year.
“I’ve grown up in Charleston all my life,” she said. “I just wanted to help make my city a better place and be there and be able to help the citizens of this city.”
She will start training at the West Virginia State Police Academy on Monday and complete 823 academic hours during the 16-week paramilitary police academy. Johnson then goes to an 80-hour orientation before starting the CPD’s 20-week Field Training Program.
“Everybody that I have worked with as a humane officer of the last year has really given me as an idea of what I am getting into,” Johnson said. “I know there is going to be surprises and everything but I am ready. I am ready to start the job.”
Johnson added that she will be the first person in her immediate side of the family to work as an officer but she has a cousin that is in the CPD.
Story by Jake Flatley