AMERICUS — 7 graduate from Law Enforcement Academy



AMERICUS — South Georgia Technical College’s (SGTC) Law Enforcement Academy (LEA) recently held a graduation ceremony for its most recent graduates in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center on SGTC’s Americus campus. Seven individuals were recognized and received their Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Certification. Montezuma Police Chief Eric Finch was guest speaker for the ceremony.

“The best advice I can give you is to be accountable to the taxpayers of the community you serve,” said Finch as he addressed the cadets. “They’re your ‘customers’. No matter how rich or poor someone is, you still owe them your best service.

“In 2001, I was shot while on duty, and I almost lost my finger. I told the doctor to just remove it, but he refused. When I was injured, I realized just how important that finger was. I couldn’t tie my shoes without it! That taught me that everyone in the community is important, and you should treat everyone with equal respect,” said Finch.

In addition to being compassionate, Finch said it was important to be accountable to other officers.

“If you see someone doing something wrong, tell him or her. Use a common sense approach to everything,” he said.

Finch also stressed the importance of giving back to the community and being a good role model.

“Volunteer, and be a mentor for young children,” he advised.

Finch concluded his message by saying, “SGTC has the best law enforcement academy in Georgia, and I know that your instructors, Brett Murray and Vanessa Wall, have put in 100 percent to make sure you are the best that you can be.”

Following Finch’s speech, LEA Instructor Brett Murray andcriminal justice program chair Vanessa Wall presented awards to three of the cadets. The academic achievement award went to the student with the highest overall grade point average, Cheryl Dickerson of Plains. The Class Representative Award, which was voted on by students, went to Jacob Hair of Vienna. The Top Gun award for the student with the highest scores on the shooting range went to Jordan Peavy of Byromville. Wall remarked that Peavy’s brother, Josh, also received the Top Gun Award when he was a graduate of SGTC’s second Law Enforcement Academy class.

Class representative Jacob I. Hair addressed the crowd and thanked his instructors for showing the cadets how to learn from their mistakes.

“It seems that the more you learn, the more there is to know!” said Hair.

He noted the challenge of graduating from the academy by stating, “One thing is for certain, we earned this honor. Nothing was given to us.”

Other graduates were James D. Judy of Leesburg, who led the graduates, faculty and staff, family and friends in the pledge of allegiance; Isabella B. Lawson of Colquitt; Jayson L. Myers of Bainbridge, who closed the program with the Benediction; and Henry P. Temples III of Bainbridge

South Georgia Tech was selected as one of six technical colleges in Georgia to participate in a pilot project that would allow new law enforcement officers to receive their basic law enforcement training at a state technical college and obtain college credit at the same time. The cadets undergo 18 weeks and over 700 hours of intense training mentally and physically.

The LEA graduates received their POST (Peace Officers Standards and Training) certification from SGTC as well as a technical certificate of credit that can be utilized toward a diploma or associate degree in criminal justice.

The Law Enforcement Academy program takes 18 weeks to complete and most recruits qualify for the HOPE Grant and other forms of financial aid. Admission standards require all students to undergo a thorough background check and adhere to all rules as set forth by the state POST Council. Students will also have to meet minimum scores in English, reading and math.

For more information about the Law Enforcement Academy contact the Law Enforcement Academy office at 229-931-2716.