Friends, family and the community gathered in the Conference Center at Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s (GNTC) Gordon County Campus in Calhoun on July 22 to honor 12 students graduating from a Basic POST Certification class.
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.
Jim Pledger, program director and instructor of the academy, said in the last 40 years he has worked in law enforcement that “laws, case law, interest in law enforcement as a career, technology and attitudes towards law enforcement officers have changed.”
Pledger told the graduates he sees those changes happening more rapidly for them.
“It will take those who are dedicated to lead this profession into the future,” he said. “You are the future. To meet that future, I want you to seek advanced training. Seek higher education.”
Megan Baggett served as the student speaker for the ceremony. Houston Henry was presented with the “Top Gun” award for excellence in marksmanship. Mitchell Bandy and Anthony Warrick 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 the class are Baggett, Bandy, Kaden Baucom, John Blankenship, Coleton Carlock, Richard Craig, Henry, Caleb Hobbs, Richard Jackson, Jeremy Rice, William Sullivan and Warrick.
A majority of the graduates are already employed in law enforcement.
Coleton Carlock and Henry are employed by the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Richard Craig, Caleb Hobbs and Warrick are employed by the Walker County Sheriff’s Office.
Bandy, Jeremy Rice and William Sullivan are employed by the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office.
Kaden Baucom is employed by the Calhoun Police Department; Richard Jackson is employed by the Chatsworth Police Department.
Baggett and John Blankenship are pre-service.
Submitted by Georgia Northwestern Technical College.