The Washtenaw Community College Police Academy celebrated its 54th graduating class on Friday, Sept. 7 at 2|42 Community Church in Ann Arbor.
The 27-member Class of 2024 is made up entirely of in-service recruits, meaning they had secured employment with 21 different law enforcement agencies around the state of Michigan and were sponsored through the Police Academy by that department.
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In his Class President address, Northville Township Police Department recruit Donald Mandell reminded his classmates that graduating from the Police Academy isn’t just an achievement, “it's a testament to our perseverance, hard work and unwavering resolve to protect and serve our communities.”
“As we move forward, let us remember that our badge is not just a symbol of authority, but a pledge to uphold justice, to keep the innocent safe, and maintain peace,” Mandell added. “We must always carry out our duties with honor, always striving to make a positive impact in the lives of those we serve.”
The ceremony included a traditional presentation of certificates and a pinning ceremony, during which recruits received the badge of their new employer. The graduates also walked a receiving line of active and retired law enforcement officers in attendance, symbolizing a welcome into the profession.
Remarks were offered by WCC President Dr. Rose B. Bellanca and WCC Executive Vice President Dr. Brandon Tucker.
Public Service Training Senior Director Joyce VanMeter served as the master of ceremony and told the gathered family and friends that the graduating class started its training on May 6 and over 18 weeks completed more than 805 hours of classroom and hands-on training, earning 19 credits from WCC in the process.
The curriculum includes:
- 86 hours of firearms classroom and range instruction
- 80 hours of legal instruction
- 67 hours of subject control instruction
- 50 hours of physical fitness training
- 40 hours of emergency vehicle operation training
- 24 hours of first aid training
- 8 hours of health and wellness
- Many additional hours of cultural diversity, unbiased policing, law enforcement active de-escalation strategies, interpersonal communications, and more.
MEET THE GRADUATES
The 27-member graduating class will serve communities across Washtenaw County and beyond. They include:
- Albion Department of Public Safety: Colin Morrow
- Blackman-Leoni Department of Public Safety: Evan Dean
- Chelsea Police Department: Andrew Cerveny
- Columbia Charter Township Police Department: Bret Taylor
- Eaton County Sheriff’s Office: Gavin Etter
- Gladwin County Sheriff’s Office: Mason Sisco
- Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Office: Ashley Turowski
- Jackson Police Department: Rocky Cantu
- Meridian Township Police Department: James Spencer
- Milan Police Department: Daniel Throne
- Monroe County Sheriff’s Office: Daniel Fenske, Reese Fish
- Northfield Township Police Department: Donald Mandell
- Novi Police Department: Maranda Willey, Madelynn Fioritti
- Pittsfield Charter Township Department of Public Safety: Aaron Marks
- Redford Township Police Department: Matthew Brooks, Kenneth Young
- Somerset Township Police Department: Keegan McKenna
- University of Michigan Police Department: Coleten Bowers, Stephen Blumhardt, Alyssa Davila
- Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office: Matthew Peetz
- Woodhaven Police Department: Josilyn Guzman
- Ypsilanti Police Department: Stephen Celeskey, Zachary Plymale
AWARD WINNERS
VanMeter presented the academy’s first-ever Public Service Training Legacy in Training Award to Ralph Galvin, who spent 26 years working at the academy — many of them as Director of Public Service Training.
“Ralph recently came to visit and I think we surprised him with how many of the innovations he created that are still in use,” VanMeter said. “Ralph and his team trained hundreds if not thousands of officers and deputies, and they all carried his leadership with them throughout their careers.”
Police Academy instructors bestowed the following awards upon graduates:
- MCOLES Outstanding Recruit Award: Mason Sisco
- High Academic Achievement: Colin Morrow
- Subject Control Excellence Award: Josilyn Guzman
- Emergency Vehicle Operations Excellence Award: Matthew Peetz
- Firearms Excellence Award: Evan Dean
- Firearms Instructors Award: Josilyn Guzman
- Physical Fitness Excellence Award: Ashley Turowski
- Physical Fitness Improvement Award: Evan Dean
- ‘Train Like Troy’ Award: Kenneth Young
Police Academy graduates bestowed the following awards upon instructors:
- Favorite Instructor Award: Sgt. Michael Church, Michigan State Police
- Most Dedicated Instructor Award: Chief Steve Kramer, Green Oak Township Police Department
- Most Influential Instructor Award: Sgt. Christopher Hamilton
Members of the Class of 2024 also awarded a “Class MVP” trophy to Patrick Downey, Manager of Events & Conference Services at WCC, who is heavily involved in the day-to-day planning of the training schedule.
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Learn more about the WCC Police Academy and its application process.
Tags: Class of 2024, Graduation, October 2024, On The Record, Pinning Ceremony, Police Academy, Public Service Training