This program originally started with 23, and only 12 graduates, according to James Pledger, director of the Law Enforcement Academy.

“This is a hard course to complete,” said Pledger.

This program is the top academy in the state, according to Dr. Cathy Vann, Vice President, Academic Affairs at GNTC.

Vann said she got to see first hand the requirement of the program and she was very impressed.

She said they worked hard to get this program certified and meet the qualification of the state, and, since then, they have graduated 137 students from the program.

“Our expectations are high, but I am confident in this class,” said Vann. “We can all rest assured knowing that we are kept safe by the best and the brightest.”

Vann commended the graduates for choosing a “high calling” career in law enforcement, and explained to the graduates that if they wanted to further career then they would need to further their education.

Student speaker Corey Bishop spoke on behalf of the graduating class, and said the class is part of something bigger then themselves.

Bishop said they started there journey six months ago on January 9, and after everything they have been through these few seen it through until the end.

They grew close over the past months. They started as just names on a desk, and now they all have a nickname or two, according to Bishop.

He talked about what they had learned over the past few months, and how law enforcement today needs to evolve to meet the demands of the needs in today’s world.

“Today law enforcement needs to be sharper and better trained to handle the more complex requirements,” said Bishop.

He continued to speak of how proud he was to graduate from such a great program, but that he had to be prepared to learn more from the future fieldwork that lay in front of him.

Bishop also wanted to thank the families that stood behind the students over the course of the class.

“What the public seeing as true courage and bravery is just us doing our job,” said Bishop.

On top of the students receiving their diplomas there were a few students that received exemplary awards. Corey Bishop received an award for academic excellence, and Jacob Eubanks received an award for excellence with firearms.

Class coordinator, Jeff Vanaman explained that this class is 300 more hours than what the state program is set at, so it gives the student more in depth study of the field and what to expect.

Vanaman also made it clear that the law enforcement market is wide open, and this class and these graduates have an upper hand, because of this program.

“We do break them down mentally to help them see things from a different perspective, but we have enjoyed working with this class,” said Vanaman.