Westmoreland County Community College Graduates 16 Police Academy Cadets
December 5, 2018 Youngwood, Pa.Westmoreland County Community College recently celebrated the graduation of 16 police academy cadets from its Municipal Police Officers’ Training Academy at a celebration and ceremony on November 27, 2018.
The ceremony’s guest speaker was instructor Donald Hess. Hess has been with the Westmoreland County Community College Police Academy since 1995 and has been in law enforcement for more than 30years.
Earning special recognition for Academic Excellence were Ryan J. Layton of Connellsville and Richard D. Stuart of Durbin, South Africa. The Firearms Proficiency award went to Trevor J. Ely of Manor and Samuel J. Hale of North Huntingdon.
Earning the Driving Proficiency award were Ryan J. Layton, Joseph D. VanOrd of Warren and Sean Grosso of Latrobe. The President’s Leadership Award went to Joseph D. VanOrd and Gerald W. Myers of Connellsville.
The graduates from Class 48 were Benjamin C. Bitner of Mt. Pleasant, Trevor J. Ely, Kenneth M. Grant, Jr. of Jeannette, Jason R. Grecco of Scottdale, Blake T. Huck of Elizabeth Forward, Ryan J. Layton, David A. Thomas of Acme, and Joseph D. VanOrd.
The graduates from Class 49 were Edward M. Grabb of Greensburg, Sean M. Grosso of
Latrobe, Samuel J. Hale of North Huntingdon, Sharise R. Johnson of McKeesport, Gerald
W. Myers and Michael A. Parlak Jr. of Connellsville, Adam D. Pataky of Plum Borough
and Richard D. Stuart.
The Westmoreland County Community College Municipal Police Officers’ Training Academy celebrated its 39th year and offers both a part-time and full-time academy. The 930-hour program trains students to become police officers in Pennsylvania cities, boroughs and townships. Cadets also become Emergency First Responders and certified in CPR, Incident Command, the National Incident Management System and tactical skills.
Westmoreland’s Police Academy is taught by 25 professional instructors including working officers, investigators and leaders from throughout the southwestern Pennsylvania region, as well as a practicing attorney and a district magistrate judge. All are certified in their expertise by the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission.
Westmoreland County Community College is recruiting applicants for the 2019 Part-time Municipal Police Academy, which starts January 12, 2019 and will begin recruitment for the 2019 Full-time Municipal Police Academy in February.