MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Through hugs and cheers, John Arpino and Adam Stebbins took their oaths to become police officers in Meridian Township. Both Arpino and Stebbins are recent graduates of the Police Academy, and will fill two of the four vacancies the Police Department currently has.

"I've participated in a number of ceremonies like this. I sometimes tend to forget how important it is to the families," said Meridian Township Police Chief Dave Hall. "For these guys it's their first job, hopefully their last job. It's a special time, and we want to make it that way."

It was important enough to the family of Stebbins, that his sister traveled all the way from St. Louis, MO to be there for the ceremony.

"I'm just excited to start work so soon after the academy," says Stebbins, who grew up in Okemos. "A few years ago I went on my first ride along and knew it was something I wanted to do."

Arpino grew up in Lake Orion, MI and has known he wanted to be a police officer since high school, going on to attend Michigan State University graduating with a degree in criminal justice. With his mother pinning on his badge, Arpino achieved what he has dreamed about since his teenage years, and had a hard time finding words to describe his emotions.

"Excitement... a little bit of nervousness," describes Arpino. "Just happy that I've come all this way and gotten to where I want to be."

The two officers will have about fifteen weeks of training until they are sent out into the field.