Friends, family and the community gathered in the Conference Center at Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s (GNTC) Gordon County Campus in Calhoun on March 26 to honor 13 students graduating from Basic POST Certification Class #BPC1-2024-06.
The Basic POST Certification program is designed to train and prepare graduates for employment as entry-level Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST)-certified police officers. The 11-week program is part of GNTC’s Law Enforcement Academy.
“When you put on that badge and you get into that vehicle you represent every citizen in your community, the elected officials and your family. You have a tremendous opportunity, but you also have a tremendous challenge,” said Rome Mayor Craig McDaniel, former president of GNTC. McDaniel was the event’s featured speaker.
Jesse Bond served as the student speaker for the ceremony. Joseph Taylor was presented with the Top Gun award for excellence in marksmanship, and Sawyer Sharp received the Academic (Honor Graduate) Award for having the highest grade point average.
Graduates recited their Oath of Honor at the conclusion of the ceremony, vowing “On my honor, I will never betray my badge, my integrity, my character or the public trust. I will always have the courage to hold myself and others accountable for our actions. I will always uphold the Constitution, my community and the agency I serve.”
Graduates of GNTC’s Basic POST Certification Class #BPC1-2024-06 are Jesse Bond, Tyler Chastain, Matthew Creighton, Amadou Diaw, Bobby Feagans, Dakota Maddox, Damien Neelley, Jadyn Norton, Cristian Peinado, Savannah Roberts, Sawyer Sharp, Joseph Taylor and Haden Templeton.
A majority of the graduates are already employed in law enforcement.
Bobby Feagans and Jadyn Norton are employed by the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Dakota Maddox and Damien Neelley are employed by the Murray County Sheriff’s Office.
Matthew Creighton and Haden Templeton are employed by the Walker County Sheriff’s Office.
Savannah Roberts, Sawyer Sharp and Joseph Taylor are employed by the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office.
Cristian Peinado is employed by the Dalton State College Police Department.
Jesse Bond is employed by the Whitfield County Fire Department.
Tyler Chastain and Amadou Diaw are pre-service.