SSCC Basic Peace Officers complete training

The cadets of Southern State Community College's Basic Peace Officers Training Program were recognized at a special ceremony held July 11 at the college's Fayette Campus in Washington Court House.

Sixteen cadets were recognized for completing the six-month program which covers the fundamentals of entry-level peace officer training and includes courses in laws, administrative functions, firearms, human relations, criminal investigations, traffic accident investigations, traffic enforcement, patrols, civil disorders and prisoner bookings.

Students earn 24 college credit hours which may be applied to the law enforcement associate degree program at Southern State. The new cadets join approximately 256 cadets before them since the program started in 1997.

Students who completed the training program include: Dewey E. Allen, Tyler D. Alsop, Jessy M. Brady, Treg A. Brown, Justin K. Burns, Dustin P. Gordon, Byron G. Gustin, Ethan L. Johnson, Michael D. Metzger, Nayan Patel, Miguel A. Penwell, Traci N. Price, Chessie L. Ratliff, Donald J. Smith, Traevon L. Williams, and Shane O. Young.

"I'm grateful to each of you for sticking with this program," said Dr. Kevin Boys, SSCC President, who provided the opening remarks. "I'm equally appreciative you've chosen this challenging line of work making a valuable contribution to making our community a safer place to live."

"I have a lot of faith in every one of you," said guest speaker Chief Nicholas L. Thompson of the Hillsboro Police Department. "As a police officer, you're going to meet a lot of people. You'll meet some of the best, but other days you'll wonder why you got into this line of work. Keep your head up, and when a kindergartener walks up to you and tells you he wants to be a police officer, it will put it all back into perspective."

Following the opening speeches, Commander Robin A. Roche presented the Basic Peace Officer Training Academy awards. Perfect attendance awards were presented to Dewey E. Allen, Jessy M. Brady, Treg A. Brown, Byron G. Gustin, Chessie J. Ratliff, and Donald J. Smith. Awards for demonstrating outstanding leadership and teamwork were presented to Jessy M. Brady, Chessie J. Ratliff, and Donald J. Smith. An award for outstanding academic performance was awarded to Dewey E. Allen.

In recognition of outstanding psychological survival fortitude, Justin K. Burns was presented the Fighting Spirit Award, in memory of Sgt. Tim Fryer.

In recognition of outstanding handgun performance, Traevon L. Williams was presented the Top Gun Award, in memory of Deputy Harry Smithson.

In recognition of maintaining outstanding physical condition, Dewey E. Allen was presented the Physical Fitness Award, in memory of Davide A. Soprano. Students in this year's class broke two academy records in physical fitness; during state testing, Dewey E. Allen obtained a new academy record by completing 62 pushups in one minute, and Nayan D. Patel obtained a new academy record by completing 64 situps in one minute.

"We made it!" exclaimed Cadet Donald J. Smith who was invited to provide the student remarks. "It's difficult to summarize our entire six-month journey. But we're finally here. Our dreams are now realized through hard work and determination. Congratulations!"

Most coursework for the training program takes place at Southern State's Fayette Campus in Washington C.H. Instructors are recruited from various state, county and local law enforcement and corrections agencies. In concert with the Basic Peace Officers Training Program, Southern State also offers an associate's degree in law enforcement.

To learn more about the Basic Peace Officers Training Program, please visit www.sscc.edu/peaceofficer/index.shtml<http://www.sscc.edu/peaceofficer/index.shtml>. For registration information, please call 1-800-628-7722, ext. 5615.