Ronnie Polaneczky | Amid cheers, tears, joining the long blue line

0 Comments | Philadelphia Daily News, September, 2007

AS 158 NEWLY minted police officers walked across the stage of Temple University's McGonigle Hall yesterday to receive their diplomas, Lucy Bryant and her sister, Reena Miller, listened for the cheers of each officer's families or friends. If they didn't hear any - or if, in their estimation, the cheers sounded unacceptably thin - the sisters cheered the officers themselves.

"GO, ROBERT!"  they screamed.  "YAY, DANIEL!"

By the time the last of the Philadelphia Police Academy's 349th graduating class had accepted his diploma from Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson, Bryant and Miller had whooped and hollered so much, it's a wonder they had voices left at all.

"This is a very big step, and they deserve the recognition," said Miller, who was at Temple with...