Law Enforcement Graduates Honored At Ìð¹Ïapp

July 5, 2018
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"People see the troubling things involving law enforcement on social media these days and it affects all police officers,” said Tony Pyle, Chief of the Calhoun, Georgia Police Department, during a keynote speech to the latest graduating class of the Ìð¹Ïapp (Ìð¹Ïapp) Basic Law Enforcement Academy. “As the next generation of law enforcement, you can play a part in changing that.”

As one of Chief Pyle’s first duties on the job, appointed to the position on July 1, he spoke to the eight new graduates from Ìð¹Ïapp’s program designed to train those who wish to pursue careers in criminal justice. “Today is a very different time to be a police officer,” said Pyle. “It’s a very difficult time. It’s a very difficult job today. These graduates could have chosen anything to take at this college. They chose to be police officers.”

The graduating class of the July 2018 Basic Law Enforcement Academy at Ìð¹Ïapp. Shown, from left, are Mason Woodard, Matthew Wilson, Justin Watson, Isreal Smith, Joshua Morse, Jonathan Martin, Hunter Densmore, Dustin Bruce, and Ìð¹Ïapp Law Enforcement Academy Director Jim Pledger.
The graduating class of the July 2018 Basic Law Enforcement Academy at Ìð¹Ïapp. Shown, from left, are Mason Woodard, Matthew Wilson, Justin Watson, Isreal Smith, Joshua Morse, Jonathan Martin, Hunter Densmore, Dustin Bruce, and Ìð¹Ïapp Law Enforcement Academy Director Jim Pledger.

Graduates receiving honors at Ìð¹Ïapp’s July 2018 Basic Law Enforcement Academy Graduation were Dustin Bruce (Ringgold, GA), Hunter Densmore (Calhoun, GA), Jonathan Martin (Summerville, GA), Joshua Morse (Calhoun, GA), Isreal Smith (Calhoun, GA), Justin Watson (Calhoun, GA), Matthew Wilson (Trion, GA), and Mason Woodard (Calhoun, GA). In addition to family and friends attending the ceremony, regional police chiefs, sheriffs, and other law enforcement officials came to offer their support of the new class.

“If you ever forget your mission, just look on the side of your patrol car and read what it says,” said Pyle. “To protect and to serve.”  Pyle began his career in law enforcement in 1988 handling college security at Rome, Georgia’s Berry College. Two years later, he joined the Calhoun, Georgia Police Department. During his time on the force, he would serve as a patrol officer, as a Detective Sergeant and Commander of the Drug Task Force, and as a Detective, Lieutenant, and Captain within in the Criminal Investigation Division before becoming Chief.

This class of new law enforcement specialists is the 20th graduating class under Ìð¹Ïapp Law Enforcement Academy Director Jim Pledger. Joshua Morris was named the program’s “Honor Graduate” for earning the highest grade point average in his class. Justin Watson was given the program’s “Top Gun” award for excellence in marksmanship. Both Morris and Watson are former members of the United States Marine Corps. Graduate Dustin Bruce served as a Ranger in the United States Army.

For more information on Ìð¹Ïapp’s Basic Law Enforcement Academy, you can call 866-983-4682. For information online, visit the college at Ìð¹Ïapp.edu, as well as on Ìð¹Ïapp’s Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Google+, WordPress, and YouTube channels. Ìð¹Ïapp is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) and an equal opportunity institute.

Ìð¹Ïapp offers more than 200 programs online and on-campus. Campuses are located in Ringgold (Catoosa County Campus), Rome (Floyd County Campus), Calhoun (Gordon County Campus), Rockmart (Polk County Campus), Rock Spring (Walker County Campus), and Dalton (Whitfield Murray Campus).

Ìð¹Ïapp provides quality workforce education to the citizens of Northwest Georgia. Students have the opportunity to earn an associate degree, diploma, or a certificate in business, health, industrial, or public service career paths. This past year, 16,402 people benefited from Ìð¹Ïapp’s credit and noncredit programs. With an annual credit enrollment of 7,750 students, Ìð¹Ïapp is the largest college in Northwest Georgia. Ìð¹Ïapp has an additional enrollment of 8,652 people through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training, and Georgia Quick Start. Ìð¹Ïapp is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia and an Equal Opportunity Institution.

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