It’s difficult not to like an event that honors a hero. It’s even more difficult not to like an event that honors two heroes. That is why one of the more enjoyable things I get to do each year is attend the ceremony memorializing Lumberton police Officer Jeremiah Goodson and honoring a current Basic Law Enforcement trainee at Robeson Community College.
The ceremony is usually very small, involving the current cadets, a few instructors, and Officer Goodson’s widow, Lametria, but it’s big on significance as Officer Goodson gave his life in the line of duty.
City Councilman Burnis Wilkins, retired law enforcement officer and coordinator of RCCs’s Law Enforcement Training, established the Jeremiah Goodson Scholarship at Robeson Community College a few years ago and each year Wilkins funds the scholarship, which is awarded to the BLET cadet who has the highest academic average in the class and has also successfully completed the Police Officers’ Physical Abilities Test. This fall that honor went to Cadet Joshua Miller.
It’s not unusual for cadets to have former military service or family members who served in law enforcement, but the training does attract candidates from all walks of life. Miller is more atypical than most, however, in that he already holds a public service job and has had experience as a first responder.
After graduating Lumberton High School in 2006, Miller attended The University of North Carolina at Pembroke for a short while and then spent a few years working in construction before enrolling in the Emergency Medical Technician program at RCC in 2010. Within a short time he had earned both the basic and intermediate certificates and went to work for Robeson County Emergency Medical Services while simultaneously volunteering for Pembroke Rescue Squad. In 2012, he earned paramedic certification at Bladen Community College and began working at Southeastern Regional Medical Center while still employed with Robeson County EMS. Miller left Robeson County EMS in 2015 to work full time for the hospital as a paramedic in the emergency room, where he is currently employed.
Despite all the training as an EMT and his service as a paramedic, Miller says he regretted not joining the military and decided that another way for him to serve would be through law enforcement. He enrolled in Robeson’s BLET program in the spring and was doing well until he broke his foot during physical training. Not to be deterred, Miller returned with the fall class and in meeting the requirements for the Goodson Scholarship has earned the highest class average on academics and this time passed the Police Officers Physical Abilities Test without incident.
“This is a great program. We have the highest standards in the state,” Miller said of the program.
When asked to comment on the honor of winning the Jeremiah Goodson Scholarship, Miller deflected praise, noting, “He, Goodson, gave the ultimate sacrifice. I’m grateful for receiving the scholarship, but we should all be grateful for what he gave just trying to make our community a better place.”
If you would like a career serving your community, the next Basic Law Enforcement Training class begins in January, but prospective students should contact the Law Enforcement Training personnel this week in order to apply for the class. For info, email Mickey Biggs at [email protected] or call 910-272-3651.
