Law Enforcement Graduates Honored At GNTC
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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 Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) 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 GNTC’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.”
Graduates receiving honors at GNTC’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 GNTC 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 Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s Basic Law Enforcement Academy, you can call 866-983-4682. For information online, visit the college at GNTC.edu, as well as on GNTC’s Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Google+, WordPress, and YouTube channels. GNTC is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) and an equal opportunity institute.
GNTC 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).
Georgia Northwestern Technical College 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 GNTC’s credit and noncredit programs. With an annual credit enrollment of 7,750 students, GNTC is the largest college in Northwest Georgia. GNTC has an additional enrollment of 8,652 people through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training, and Georgia Quick Start. GNTC is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia and an Equal Opportunity Institution.
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Don Foley
Assistant Director, Marketing and PR
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