The Harford County Sheriff’s Office Training Academy held commencement exercises Dec. 9, 2009, for the recruits of Entrance Level Class 27.
The class, comprised of 15 Harford County deputies and one officer from the Bel Air Police Department, graduated after a rigorous program of intensive law enforcement and criminal justice training that began in June 2009. As part of their required training and certification, police recruits received extensive firearms training. Deputy Mark Jordan received the Firearms Proficiency Award for the class. Deputy Brett Smoot was named class valedictorian for his best overall scores. Deputy Tyler Vass was selected by his peers to place the ceremonial class flag onto the “guide on,” an honor bestowed on him by his fellow classmates.
Lt. Carl Brooks, director of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Training Academy welcomed more than 100 families, friends and dignitaries to the event held at John Carroll School. The national anthem was sung by Kelleigh Pangratz and the Posting and Retiring of Colors was performed by the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Color Guard. Sheriff L. Jesse Bane congratulated the recruits on their successful six-month odyssey through the police academy, and reminded them of the enormous responsibilities and integrity required to be a police officer.
Guest speaker Steven Hess, of the United States Attorney’s Office and a retired Harford County sheriff’s deputy, offered some common sense and inspirational advice to the graduates. The recruits received their certificates of training and respective badges from Sheriff Bane, Chief Leo Matrangola, of the Bel Air Police Department, and Ray Franklin, Acting Executive Director of the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions.
Graduating were Allen Frederick Jr., Thomas French Jr., Amy Giannini, Thomas Jackson, Mark Jordan, Donald Licato, James Norman Jr., Kevin Phillips, William Salvas, Andrew Sampson, Derek Seman, Brett Smoot, Trent Thomas, Tyler Vass, Ronnell Webb, and Michael Wilsynski.
Each graduate completed 28 weeks of intensive training sanctioned by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions receiving specialized training in more than 200 course objectives including first aid, CPR, defensive tactics, fire safety, report writing and physical fitness to name a few. In addition to the training received, graduates also received credits towards an Associate Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Harford Community College. For further information regarding a career in law enforcement with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, call 410-836-6600 or visit the Web site at www.harfordsheriff.org.