Cohort Four
Ranto Bernhardt
Ranto Bernhardt was born in the Dominican Republic. When she was four years old, her family relocated to the United States where she was raised in Washington Heights in uptown Manhattan, New York. Growing up in a diverse neighborhood, surrounded by different cultures and languages, helped shape and strengthen Ranto’s identity and pride in her culture, as well as her respect for people of different backgrounds.
As a teenager, Ranto spent many hours watching Forensic Files, which was the initial spark that led her to want to become a police officer. She enrolled in CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Physical Education.
After working in retail and hospitality management during and after college, Ranto decided to transition into a law enforcement career. Once she became a naturalized citizen, she applied to three different police departments including the DC Metropolitan Police Department. Her official hire date with MPD was September 18, 2017, and upon graduation, she was assigned to the Third District. During her time with MPD, she says her perspective has evolved along with her career and personal life. This evolution has reignited her passion for officer health and wellness.
Ranto is an ABLE certified instructor and works with the Engaged Workforce Strategic Focus Group at MPD. She believes both of these roles have helped her be more thoughtful about how she can positively impact MPD members through the different avenues of her work.
Andre Davis
Andre Davis was born in Rahway, New Jersey, and raised in Jackson, NJ. While in middle school and high school, he played football, wrestled, and ran track & field. Andre also frequently served as a volunteer in the community.
As a child growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood, Andre’s mother influenced him to attend a historically black college. He graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Political Science from South Carolina State University (SC State). As a student at SC State, Andre was a member of the NAACP chapter and the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., where he continued to participate in various volunteer activities.
Andre joined the Metropolitan Police Department for the District of Columbia in 2015 and is currently assigned to the patrol division of the First District. During his free time, he teaches Jiu Jitsu and self-defense for women. Additionally, Andre enjoys swimming at the local recreation centers and participating in various forms of exercise. In the near future, Andre wishes to further his education and obtain a master’s degree.
Malik Gosha-Jorden
Malik Gosha’-Jorden was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and joined the DC Metropolitan Police Department in 2016. He attended Hampton University and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Criminal Justice in 2014. During his time at Hampton, Malik served as President of the Hampton University Chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society and participated in an internship with Lower Merion Township Police Department. Before joining MPD, Malik worked as an Asset Protection Manager for Walmart in Philadelphia and Alexandria. He currently works as an Investigator with the Violence Reduction Unit.
Malik takes pride in leading by example by being a relatable and engaging member of law enforcement, always looking to bridge gaps between the community and MPD. He looks forward to forging new relationships and becoming further involved in addressing the issues facing law enforcement.
Jessica Navarro
Officer Jess Navarro is from Pittsburgh, PA and spent her adult life living in different places across the country serving in the Army and later as an Army wife. After graduating from Methodist College with a BA in Criminal Justice/Spanish, Jess began her policing career at Fayetteville Police Department, NC, where she served as a patrol Field Training Officer, Property Crimes Detective, and Violent Crimes Detective. The highlight of her career was being selected as the lead case agent for a serial rape case that terrorized the city for years and was ultimately closed with an arrest and conviction.
Jess was selected in 2020 to start the Second District Auto Theft Unit. She has served as an Auto Theft Investigator since then and is assigned to the Second District Crime Suppression Team. She enjoys working in a team environment and networking to solve crimes. Jess graduated from the Center for Homeland Defense and Security Emergence Program at the Naval Postgraduate School in June 2022. Her change initiative project (Using Microsoft Teams to improve Information Sharing) has been endorsed by command staff and implemented at MPD.
In her time off, Jess is busy working her full-time job as a mom of three elementary school-aged kids. Wellness is a priority in her life and she enjoys working out with all of her mom friends, pushing each other to become stronger and healthier role models for their children.
Since taking nearly a decade off from law enforcement to stay home with her kids and support her husband’s military career, Officer Navarro returned to the field as a police officer with a new perspective as a mother. Advocating for vulnerable populations, especially children and Latino people by connecting through the Spanish language, is her driving motivation at MPD.
Carly Royden
Carly Royden attended American University in Washington, D.C. and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Public Communications with a minor in International Business. In 2017, Carly began her marketing career working at Discovery Communications. As an account coordinator within their internal creative agency, she worked on projects for Investigation Discovery (ID), TLC, and Discovery Channel’s corporate team. Carly later joined the DC Metropolitan Police Department as a marketing specialist and now manages marketing for the Recruiting Division with the goal of hiring a new recruit class each month. Through her current role, Carly has developed a passion for working in law enforcement and national security. In her free time, Carly enjoys reading, walking her dog, Scooby, and traveling around the world with her husband.
Jasma Stoutamire
Jasma Stoutamire was born and raised in Washington, D.C. She attended Bowie State University and earned a BS in Criminal Justice, with a focus in Forensic Science. While attending BSU she was also employed with the Metropolitan Police Department as a recruit.
Jasma joined the Metropolitan Police Department in December 2016 and started as an Officer in the Second District. Soon thereafter, she was selected to be the Homeless Outreach Officer. In June 2022 she was promoted to Sergeant and is currently assigned to the Sixth District.
In her free time, Jasma enjoys self-care days, traveling, and enjoying time with family.