Early this week, the Woodland Police Department welcomed four new employees with a swearing-in ceremony and celebrated excellence among those in the department with its annual 2024 Awards Ceremony.

The Tuesday evening festivities inside the new Woodland Community College Culinary and Performing Arts Center kicked off with a swearing-in of Officers Brittni Grigsby, Melad Khalil, Scott Rossell and Kevin Schroeder.

Grigsby was born and raised in Sacramento, where she was taught the values of hard work and discipline from a young age. A 2018 Rio Linda High School graduate, she played soccer and volleyball and was an honor student. She was also part of the Future Farmers of America program.

Before pursuing a career in law enforcement, Brittni worked for RDO Equipment Co. as a regional sales coordinator, overseeing heavy equipment sales in Sacramento, Fresno, and Hayward, California.

She graduated from the academy with not one but three awards: ARRCON (Arrest and Control), EVOC (Driving/Pursuit Driving), and Female PT (Physical Training).

Khalil, a 2021 Franklin High School graduate, was born in Elk Grove and raised in Fremont. After high school, he obtained his commercial driver’s license at 18 years old and began working alongside his uncle to help manage the family’s CDL trucking school and towing business.

During his academy years, Khalil was offered a position with the Woodland Police Department. He is excited to work there and looks forward to making a positive impact on the community.

Rossell, a graduate of Grove High School in 2011, was born and raised in Elk Grove. From an early age, his father, an immigrant from Mexico, instilled a strong work ethic, and his mother, who grew up in a military household, taught compassion and structure.

After high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as a Motor Transport Diesel Technician and served on active duty until 2014. He then returned to Elk Grove and joined the Marine Corps Reserves to be more present with his son, James.He graduated from the Sacramento Police Academy in 2022 (Class 22BR-1) and is grateful for his experience with the Sacramento Police Department, where he worked in a diverse community that provided valuable learning opportunities.

Schroeder attended Woodland Christian School from preschool through high school, graduating in 2006.

From 2006 to 2008, he attended Woodland Community College, majoring in criminal justice. On July 21, 2008, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as a military police officer. He was stationed in San Diego, North Carolina, and Okinawa, Japan, and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from 2011 to 2012.

Officer Schroeder was honorably discharged in 2013 and returned to school in 2014, earning his bachelor’s in criminal justice from Sacramento State University.

In January 2024, Officer Schroeder began his law enforcement training at the Sacramento Regional Public Safety Training Center, completing Modules 3 and 2. He then completed Module 1 at San Joaquin Delta College, graduating from the Basic Peace Officer Academy on November 27, 2024.

Grigsby elected to have her father pin her badge, Khalil opted for his aunt to pin him, Rossell had his wife and children pin him and Schroeder went with his father to pin him.

Following the swearing-in, the award ceremony began with the handing out of service pins for those in the department who have served five, 10, 15, and 25 years and a recognition of those who retired, including former Chief Derrek Kaff, Sgts Jason Brooks, Darren Imus and Francisco Deleon and Officer Harshbir Bansal.

Officers Sergio Jacobo and Ryan Roval received a five-year service pin, Sgt. Evan Black and Chaplain Matt Van Peursem received a 10-year pin, Detective Ruben Esquibel received a 15-year pin, and Sr. Records Specialist Josie Castillo received a 25-year pin.

Major award winners included WPD Employee of the Year award winner Marcela Vazquez, Volunteer of the Year Vanus Bigelow and WPD Officer of the Year Jesus Frausto.

“Anytime we get to celebrate the successes and work that our people are doing out there and showcase it, it is a phenomenal feeling,” Kinnan said. “They deserve all the accolades they get. Across the board, these are our folks recognized by their peers. Not just by me or the deputy chief, their peers are putting them up for these awards.”