Detective Antonio Aquino, Director of Internal Affairs for the Homestead Police Department, introduced the most recent crop of law enforcement officers to join our city’s force during a Special Council Presentation on September 2014.
“The swearing in of these officers here today is indicative of the pride that we take down here in Homestead when it comes to the people we select to wear that badge and uniform,” said Mayor Jeff Porter. “Let us welcome these new officers into the fold and wish them the very best in their future endeavors and that of the city they now serve.”
Following the preliminary speeches, the recruits partook in a swearing in ceremony thus officially becoming full-fledged officers for the City of Homestead Police Department. The new officers are as follows:
Jean Chevalier, 31, was born in Haiti, grew up in Homestead and currently resides in Florida City. He holds an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice and graduated the police academy in August of 2012. He is fluent in English and Creole and is the father of four children with his wife Karleene Toussaint.
Lexus Guerrero, 21, Born in Miami, comes from a law enforcement family. His father, Lazaro Guerrero, is an 18 year veteran of the Homestead Police Department. His step-mother, Melissa Powers, was a Deputy for Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and tragically lost her life in the line of duty responding to an emergency assistance call for another Deputy in 2010. Having grown up in the Homestead Area, Officer Guerrero has been a full-time City of Homestead employee for 2 years. He graduated the police academy in February 2014, is fluent in English and Spanish and is a certified rescue diver.
Lance Monaco, 21, was born in Miami and raised in Homestead. He holds an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice and graduated the police academy in February 2014. His father, Officer John Monaco, has been a full-time police officer with the Homestead Police Department for 19 years and has been a K9 officer for 10. His mother, Julie, owner of local business the “Cutting Studio,” has been a business owner in Homestead for 24 years.
Billy Pearce, 26, was born in Miami and was raised in the Homestead area. He has been a full-time City of Homestead employee for eight years and he graduated the police academy in February 2014. Officer Pearce also comes from a law enforcement family. His grandfather, Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Buck Buchanan, was with the highway patrol for 25 years before sadly passing away in 1990 from cancer. The stretch of road on US1 and 15th Street was renamed “Trooper Buck Buchanan Memorial Highway” in his honor. His cousin, Officer Aaron Pearce, has been a full-time police officer with the Homestead Police Department for 9 years.