Training Academy graduates 11 peace officers

The local Missouri Sheriffs’ Association Training Academy graduated 11 certified peace officers Tuesday night, including nine who will soon report for duty at their respective departments across the area.

Westwood Baptist Church was filled with family and friends as members of Class 248 graduated with their Class A certification in law enforcement. Since beginning their training Aug. 16, the cadets completed 700 hours of academic, firearms and practical training.

“I have high hopes for all of you,” said Poplar Bluff Police Sgt. Dusty Johnson, who was chosen by class from among it’s instructors as keynote speaker.

Poplar Bluff Police Patrolman Trevor Parks (right) hugs his brother, Austin Riley, after pinning his Butler County Sheriff’s Department badge on the newest graduate of the Missouri Sheriff’s Association Training Academy.DAR/Michelle Friedrich

Law enforcement, according to Johnson, is a unique career.

The 12-year veteran said he didn’t know in the beginning what he would be getting into as a police officer meant.

He said he didn’t know it meant sometimes being a plumber, electrician, mechanic, counselor or janitor all rolled into one.

In today’s society with 24-hour news and social media, “you will be under constant scrutiny,” Johnson said. “Every day millions of officers will go out and do their job and do it well.

“This rarely gets reported; however, if you mess up one time, every action you did in that single moment will be dissected …”

Johnson said he has been asked many times why he became a police officer.

“That’s not an easy question to answer,” he said. “… Being a police officer, there is nothing else I would rather be.”

Johnson quoted a segment from Paul Harvey called “What is a policemen. ‘A policeman is the most needed and the most wanted at times.

“‘He is called sir to his face, but pig or worse behind his back. If he is neat, he is conceited. If he’s careless, he’s a bum.’”

Johnson further quoted, saying “If he is pleasant, he’s a flirt. If he is not, then he’s a grouch.

“‘He will make decisions in an instant that take lawyers months to pick apart, but if he hurries, he’s careless. If he’s deliberate, he’s lazy.’”

That, Johnson said, may sound ugly, but he told the cadets to remember no one is perfect.

“Mr. Harvey continues by saying, ‘he must be able to whip men twice his size and half his age without damaging his uniform and without being brutal,’” Johnson quoted. “‘If you hit him, he’s a coward; if he hits you, then he’s a bully.

“‘He must know where all the sin is, but not partake.’”

Harvey, Johnson said, ended with, “‘He will have to be a genius because he will have to feed his family on a police officer’s salary.’”

Johnson agreed, saying “Most of you know, you will not be paid much to do this job.”

Johnson told the graduates there would be dark moments, but with dark times comes light.

“Don’t beat yourself up, wondering why when there’s a possibility you may never know,” Johnson said. “If you cannot answer questions, then ask someone else …

“And, if you have to break down and cry, then go off to the side and cry. This does not make you any less of an officer or human.”

Do not be afraid, Johnson said, “to get on your knees and talk to the man upstairs; He’s listening.”

Johnson encouraged the graduates to never give up no matter what they may be facing.

In presenting the class awards and recognitions, Victor Pitman, academy’s training program coordinator, told the graduates they did the “hard work,” while their families sacrificed for their success.

“This is literally the start of the rest of your lives,” Pitman said.

Perfect attendance awards were given to Kenneth Carpenter, Aaron Huling and Byron Tyler.

Pitman said it is tough for the cadets to have perfect attendance during the 10-month academy as they balance work and families.

“It’s tough to be there every week, every weekend,” he said.

The class leader award was presented to Austin Riley, who, Pitman said, was responsible for sign-in sheets and making sure everyone knew where to be, at what time and in what uniform.

The class leader, Pitman said, also makes sure the instructors have what is needed and that the proper paperwork is completed so the cadets receive credit for their work.

That position, according to Pitman, is a very important role in the academy.

Earning the firearms award for the highest proficiency with a rifle, shotgun and pistol was Huling.

Academic honors for class salutatorian and valedictorian were presented to Huling and Carpenter, respectively.

Pitman said the cadets were tested weekly and had a lot of materials to study each week, including Missouri statutes and manuals.

Huling also was named the “honor graduate.”

“The individual (Huling) that took the average in the firearms qualification, academic and performance on the skills tests … he performed very well,” Pitman said.

The academy “is not high school,” Pitman said. “On any test, (Huling) had to get 80 points or better,” as well as perform well on the performance evaluations.

After presenting the awards, Pitman said, “you will no longer be cadets when you walk across the stage and accept your diploma. You’ll be graduates, with badges being pinned on.

“You no longer are cadets; you are peace officers.”

As the name of each graduate was called, he or she was presented with their diploma by Tom Burns, the academy’s site coordinator.

The graduates were: Zachary Austin, Butler County Sheriff’s Department; pinned by Butler County Chief Deputy Wes Popp; Carpenter, Jackson Police Department, Lt. Alex Brock; Huling, Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, Sheriff Dean Finch; Zachary Lacewell, New Madrid County Sheriff’s Department, Lt. Danny Lacewell (father); Riley, Butler County Sheriff’s Department, Poplar Bluff Police Patrolman Trevor Parks (brother); Damien Smith, Carter County Sheriff’s Department, Sheriff Rick Stephens; Tyler, Dexter Police Department; Ashley Whitt, Kennett Police Department, Capt. Rick Groves.

Also receiving their diplomas were Alexandria Holmes, Zachary Thompson and Trevor Sutton, who was not in attendance.

Pitman said Sutton, three days prior to graduation, entered an academy as part of his employment with the Jonesboro, Ark., Police Department.

Pitman encouraged the graduates to maintain a strong connection to their communities, service organizations and families, whatever drove “you to want to be a police officer.”

Pitman also encouraged the families and the communities to keep their officers grounded and thanked the families for the “your support” in their success.