The two approached the podium: The older, experienced one sedately focused on the solemnity of the occasion, while the younger, exuberant "newbie" focused on the attention of the audience. Together, they stole the show.

After all, they were black Labrador retrievers -- trained to detect explosives.

The event was the 2008 Commissioning and Swearing-in Ceremony of the Cornell Police, held April 23 in the Statler Hotel's Taylor Room. This year Steven Shirley, a current Cornell patrol officer, was promoted to sergeant, and six new officers -- Lisa Van Horn, Scott Salino, Justin Haines, Jodi Bizari, Patrick Kimmich and David Amaro -- were sworn in as patrol officers.

The two who stole the show, eliciting a mixture of sadness and joy in the audience, were retiring black lab Sabre, handled by Sergeant Jeffery Montesano, and incoming black lab Reggie, who will be handled by Officer Kevin Noterfonzo. Sabre and Montesano have served as Cornell's Canine Explosive Detection Team since 2001, participating in dignitary protection details, assisting other agencies in call-outs for explosive detection and responding to numerous suspicious package complaints. Sabre will retire to Montesano's home -- a happy outcome for both members of the team.

Noterfonzo and Reggie will take over the explosive detection work; they also have been certified for tracking.

Shirley and the six newly commissioned Cornell patrol officers already have distinguished records of service. Shirley had served for five years as a transportation service representative before becoming a patrol officer in 1996. In the years since, Shirley has distinguished himself by his love of people and his attention to detail. "He is selfless and enthusiastic, intelligent and hardworking," said Chief Curtis Ostrander at Shirley's commissioning.

The new patrol officers were chosen from 240 applicants for their service-orientation, problem-solving abilities and potential for building partnerships in both the Cornell community and other law enforcement agencies. All have college degrees in criminal justice or other law-enforcement areas, and all will assume first-responder responsibilities.

Van Horn has served as a patrol officer for the Dryden Police Department; Salino is returning to Cornell after a year with the Cayuga Heights Police Department and 19 with the Ithaca City Police Department; Haines was employed by the Cortland County Sheriff Corrections Office and has served part time for the Cornell Police Auxiliary; Bizari has most recently has been employed in Rochester as an adviser for Paychecks Inc.; Kimmich has worked with juvenile youth at the Louis Gossett Jr. Youth Facility; and Amaro has worked as a patrol officer for the Broome County Government Security Division.

With family and friends looking on with pride, the newly commissioned officers swore to "support the Constitution of the United States, the laws of New York state and the rules of Cornell University," performing their duties as police officers "with professionalism, integrity, impartiality, honor and fairness."

Cornell is fortunate to have them -- and Reggie -- on board.