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Police Academy Holds Ceremony For Second Graduating Class

The second class of the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Police Academy was honored during a graduation ceremony held at the Richland Campus Auditorium on Wednesday, September 11.

Each of the eight cadets received a certificate acknowledging their completion of the Penn Highlands Police Academy, with all eight receiving their recognition from the police chief representing the respective department they will be employed at upon graduation and successful completion of a state test.

The list of cadets, along with the department they are to be employed with, include:

• Brittney Brennan (Altoona, PA), UPMC Altoona Police Department
• Shannon Ehrhardt (Hollsopple, PA), Somerset Borough Police Department
• Shante Jones (Johnstown, PA), Johnstown Police Department
• Spencer Kauffman (Johnstown, PA), Pitt-Johnstown Campus Police
• Nathan Kniss (Geistown, PA), Ferndale Borough Police Department
• Mark Meek (Geistown, PA), Windber Borough Police Department
• Ty Stockley (Carrolltown, PA), Richland Township Police Department
• Michael Wilson (Johnstown, PA), Indian Lake Borough Police Department

Stockley was named valedictorian of the class after scoring 916 out of a possible 940 combined points on 26 tests and completion of eight different real-life scenarios.

The curriculum included subjects ranging from constitutional law, ethics, de-escalation strategies, criminal law and procedures, and search and seizure. Additionally, each cadet successfully completed practical training in physical fitness, defensive control tactics, emergency vehicle operation, firearms, first aid, and CPR, along with optional certifications in field sobriety, taser, police baton, and pepper spray.

Cadets underwent a rigorous 919 hours of instruction spanning 11 months, divided between 498 hours within a classroom and 421 hours of practical, hands-on training.

The Police Academy ran four nights per week. The cadets’ training and qualifications in firearms took place on Saturday and Sunday, spanning eight consecutive weekends.

To conclude their training at the Police Academy, cadets underwent 40 hours of practical scenario training. This comprehensive program involved three role players, each with a background in criminal justice and drawn from the local community, providing the cadets with a realistic and immersive learning experience.

A total of 10 instructors assisted in the training and certification process.

The Penn Highlands Police Academy’s third class of cadets is slated to begin training on September 30.