Police Basic Recruit School Graduates

The Prince William County Criminal Justice Academy Basic Law Enforcement 62nd Session graduated on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, in a ceremony at Grace Life Community Church in Bristow. This class was composed of 17 Prince William County Police officers and two Prince William County Sheriff’s deputies.

The 19 men and women completed a 24-week course of training in all aspects of police work, including classes in firearms, use-of-force decision making, driver training, legal training, patrol techniques, criminal investigation and crash investigation. The graduating law enforcement personnel are listed below, and brief biographies of each graduate follow:

Prince William County Police Department

• Jacob L. Aldana
• Hunter S. Baehrens
• Madison N. Blackwell
• Melinda M. Cave
• Luke A. Herninko
• Grayson P. Holley
• Jean G. Hyppolite
• Stacie C. Jorgensen
• Shanice R. Knight
• Jimmy A. Lopez Recinos
• John Paul O. Manlangit
• Valerie J. Marquez
• Paige J. Padberg
• Mark A. Rojas
• Ernesto J. Rosales
• Alanis A. Santiago Roman
• Keira S. Whitehead

Prince William County Sheriff’s Office

• Jacob C. Alabastro
• Mario J. Gill

Biographies of Basic Recruit School Session 62 Graduates:
 
Jacob C. Alabastro attended San Francisco State University in California, pursuing a degree in history. He previously served in the U.S. Air Force at the rank of Staff Sergeant. Deputy Alabastro is assigned to the Sheriff’s Office.
 
Jacob L. Aldana is a graduate of the University of Nevada in Reno with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He served in the U.S. Army at the rank of Sergeant prior to joining this Department. Additionally, he was the Class Vice President of the 62nd Session. Officer Aldana is assigned to patrol in western Prince William County.
 
Hunter S. Baehrens is a graduate of Southern New Hampshire University in Hooksett with a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity. Officer Baehrens is assigned to patrol in central Prince William County.
 
Madison N. Blackwell is a graduate of Battlefield High School in Haymarket, Va. She previously was a Police Cadet with this Department, and she has family in law enforcement. Officer Blackwell is assigned to patrol in eastern Prince William County.
 
Melinda M. Cave is a graduate of the State University of New York in Buffalo with a bachelor’s degree in pre-law and a minor in criminology. She served in the U.S. Navy at the rank of Petty Officer Second Class, where she was in that service’s uniformed military police (Master-at-Arms). She has family in law enforcement and speaks German. Officer Cave is assigned to patrol in eastern Prince William County.
 
Mario J. Gill attended the University of Alaska in Anchorage, pursuing a degree in criminology/sociology. He previously served as a Sergeant with the Prince William - Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center. Additionally, he was the Class President of the 62nd Session, and he has family in law enforcement. Deputy Gill is assigned to the Sheriff’s Office.
 
Luke A. Herninko is a homeschooled graduate. He previously was a Police Cadet with this Department. Officer Herninko is assigned to patrol in eastern Prince William County.
 
Grayson P. Holley is a graduate of Radford University in Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Officer Holley is assigned to patrol in western Prince William County.
 
Jean G. Hyppolite attends Suffolk County Community College in Selden, N.Y., and is pursuing an associate degree in psychology. He served in the U.S. Army at the rank of Sergeant and worked for the New York State Department of Corrections prior to joining this Department. Additionally, he was the Class Guide of the 62nd Session and speaks French and Haitian Creole. Officer Hyppolite is assigned to patrol in eastern Prince William County.

Stacie C. Jorgensen is a graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C., with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. She has family in law enforcement. Officer Jorgensen is assigned to patrol in western Prince William County.
 
Shanice R. Knight is a graduate of Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School in Manassas, Va. She serves in the Army National Guard at the rank of Specialist. Officer Knight is assigned to patrol in central Prince William County.

Jimmy A. Lopez Recinos is a graduate of George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He speaks Spanish. Officer Lopez Recinos is assigned to patrol in central Prince William County.
 
John Paul O. Manlangit is a graduate of DuVal High School in Lanham, Md. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps at the rank of Corporal. Officer Manlangit is assigned to patrol in central Prince William County.
 
Valerie J. Marquez is a graduate of Woodbridge Senior High School in Virginia. She previously was a Police Cadet with this Department. Officer Marquez is assigned to patrol in eastern Prince William County.
 
Paige J. Padberg attends Shenandoah University in Winchester, Va., and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in criminology. She has family in law enforcement. Officer Padberg is assigned to patrol in western Prince William County.

Mark A. Rojas is a graduate of Osbourn Park High School in Manassas, Va. He previously was a Police Cadet with this Department, and he has family in law enforcement. He speaks Spanish. Officer Rojas is assigned to work patrol in western Prince William County.
 
Ernesto J. Rosales is a graduate of W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax, Va. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps at the rank of Sergeant prior to joining the Department, and he speaks Spanish. Officer Rosales is assigned to work patrol in western Prince William County.
 
Alanis A. Santiago Roman is a graduate of the University of South Florida in Tampa with a bachelor’s degree in criminology. She has family in law enforcement and she speaks Spanish. Officer Santiago Roman is assigned to patrol in central Prince William County.
 
Keira S. Whitehead is a graduate of George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., with a bachelor’s degree in criminology and a minor in intelligence studies. Officer Whitehead is assigned to patrol in western Prince William County.
 
As the need for highly skilled and capable law enforcement officers increases, the Department continues to seek qualified applicants for police officer positions. All interested applicants are encouraged to contact the Prince William County Police Recruiting at (703) 792-7924 or visit the Department’s website. You can also find us on social media.