Robeson Community College’s Basic Law Enforcement Training program on Thursday held a graduation ceremony for 17 cadets. Their accomplishments in the program were recognized in front of 150 friends and family members.
Cadet William Britt joined his mother, Laura Morgan, to open the ceremony with a performance of the national anthem Lumberton Police Chief Michael McNeill, whose department sponsored 10 of the 17 cadets, led the invocation. After Robeson Community College President Pamela Hilbert greeted the crowd, Law Enforcement training director Mickey Biggs recognized special guests, including Robeson County Sheriff Kenneth Sealey and Richmond County Sheriff James Clemmons. Their departments sponsored the graduating cadets, as did police departments in Pembroke and Red Springs.
Biggs also introduced Robeson County Magistrate Rudy Locklear, a law enforcement instructor and alumni of the college. Locklear later introduced Superior Court Judge James Gregory Bell, who served as guest speaker for the ceremony. Bell congratulated the candidates on their accomplishment. During his travels across the state, Bell often meets officers who trained at the college. Those graduates, he said, always speak highly of the program.
Bell offered cadets words of advice on their careers before admonishing them to “be safe out there.”
The student leader elected by this year’s class was Joshua Oxendine, who thanked the instructors and families of cadets for their support.
Biggs presented the “Top Gun” firearm training award to Cadet Corey Pope. Bruce Meares, a crime scene investigator, presented the graduate with a different award for showing exemplary skill during the crime scene portion of his training.
Interestingly enough, the fellow graduate seated next to Pope during the ceremony was a member of his family. Cadet Nicholas Pope received an award for Most Improved in Physical Training from Glen Webb, an instructor and state Alcohol Law Enforcement agent. Webb also recognized Cadet Danny Martinez for setting a new course record on the Police Officers’ Physical Abilities Test at Robeson Community College.
Before the ceremony ended, program assistant Barbara Sampson presented Joshua Oxendine with a plaque recognizing him as the Honor Graduate of the class with the highest grade point average.
The other graduates included Jason G. Andrews, Rachel D. Arnold, Drequan S. Boddie, William J. Britt, Shatanna J. Cassidy, Eric L. Chambers, Elliott L. Hunt, Shayana Johnson, Brittany N. Locklear, Gilford A. Locklear Jr., Whitney N. Malcolm, Daniel D. C. Martinez, Brandon D. Parrish and Billy Stone.
The cadets have gone through 660 hours of training in more than 30 blocks of instruction under the tutelage of more than 50 law enforcement instructors. Robeson and Richmond counties will both be little safer thanks to the dedication and diligence of this group of cadets, as well as its instructors and sponsors.
If you are interested in a career in law enforcement, email Biggs at [email protected] or call 910-272-3480.
