It was a long time in becoming a reality but Tuesday night the first reserve officers to graduate from the Part-time Law Enforcement Officer Academy in Meridian received their certificates in front of local dignitaries and family members.
The overall theme from those special guests in attendance, such as Meridian Mayor John Robert Smith, Meridian Police Department Chief Benny DuBose and Homeland and Academy Director Bunky Partridge was for these 14 officers to always remember they work, for free, for the citizens of their respective communities. But there were a lot of other notes to take as well.
"On behalf of those families who sleep safely at night because you give your service to your community, we thank you," said Smith. "We can live in our homes, work at our jobs and enjoy our leisure time because officers such as you are out there protecting us from the bad elements of society."
The Part-time Law Enforcement Officer Academy is a new program supported by the City of Meridian and the Meridian Police Department. Officers from Philadelphia and Scooba joined 10 officers in Meridian in participating in the six month certification process. Of those members of Class 0801, Kent Stephens, who along with Jonathan Ipock and Justin McCary are destined to continue their law enforcement career with the MPD, was picked to act as spokesman for the group.
"I've asked full-time officers why they do the job they've chosen and almost each one of them said it was because they wanted to serve their community," said Stephens. "Well, that is no different from us. The only difference is that right now we do it for free, as reservists."
The 14 candidates now certified as reserve officers spent six months on their own time at the Meridian Public Training Facility studying laws, police procedures, going through physical training and firearm certification as well as self defense and basic law enforcement techniques. It has been a sometimes grueling schedule that took them away from family and friends and was in addition to their full-time day jobs.
"I applaud you for your efforts, your dedication and that of your respective families," said MPD Assistant Chief Tommy Miller, who himself is retiring later this month after a 31-year law enforcement career. "You give us that extra manpower when we need it and we appreciate your desire to serve."
As for this class being the first of many that will walk through the gates at the training facility, many of those who spoke alluded to how subsequent groups will have to live up to the standards this inaugural class has set.
"These men," said Mike Vick, who is the class coordinator for the academy, "have given up their free time to do something they believe in. Let's face it, law enforcement officers are crazy! They run toward gunfire! But this group has paid their dues and done an excellent job along the way."
"You have set the bar in terms of all the classroom work, the PT (physical training) and all the other things it takes to do this honorable profession," said Partridge.
Stephens, however, probably put the hurdles this initial class had to overcome into perspective when he said: "We were told we would not be given any slack. That we had to earn everything we received. That is why we set the standard by which all other classes will be judged."
And to show he had their back in case anyone, including current law enforcement officers, questioned their qualifications, Vick added this last little nugget.
"If they say you aren't worthy enough to wear that badge simply because you don't get paid, point them out to me," said Vick. "I'll educate them in my own, subtle way."
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