On Feb 1, the Bakersfield College campus was filled with Bakersfield Police Department vehicles, officers and proud family and friends.
BC was host to the 13th graduating class of the Bakersfield Law Enforcement Training Academy, in which 22 cadets completed a rigorous 23 weeks of training and over 800 hours of instruction. According to John McVicker, training officer and academy coordinator, the graduates and are now set to serve the Bakersfield community. The ceremony took place in BC’s indoor theater at 10 a.m.
According to Lieutenant Greg Williamson and academy director, ” this academy relies on over 100 people” to ensure the cadets receive the training they need to graduate and succeed in the field of law enforcement.
Williamson said recruiting and hiring of police officers is necessary “for the safety and security of the community.”
Training for the 13th class began in summer of 2004 with more than 700 applicants, who were interviewed and tested physically as well as mentally. According to officer Enns, formerly cadet Enns, who also served as the class speaker at the graduation, “less than 5% of those who applied graduated and we [the graduates] have won.”
Family and friends of graduates attended the ceremony. Bonnie Lawyer drove from Missouri to see her daughter, Heidi Roberson, graduate, “I drove over 2,000 miles and wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
BC President William Andrews also attended the event. According to Andrews, the time of graduation is a favorite time for college presidents. He also added, “The greater the amount of police officers [out in the community], the greater the decrease in crime.”
BC Chief of Public Safety Mark Graf was awarded with the top instructor award for the academy and was “surprised” to have received it.
The law enforcement academy uses the BC campus and its facilities to train cadets in the career of law enforcement.