Bravo graduates - Wayne-Wilson News Leader, Fremont, NC

30 August 2007 — J.R. George Bravo of Pikeville graduated from Wayne Community College's 50th Basic Law Enforcement Training program during ceremonies Tuesday evening, Aug. 7. He was one of nine cadets who received certificates to work as sworn law enforcement officers in North Carolina.

In addition to Mr. Bravo, certificates were conferred on James Alan Bell of Mount Olive,Daniel Aaron Broughton of Goldsboro, Jackie Michael Davis Jr. of Goldsboro, Matthew Jason Lee of Faison, Peter Michael Smith of Selma, Joshua Artemas Stine of Goldsboro, Anthony Paul Tilghman of Goldsboro and James Ellis White II of Goldsboro.

Mr. Bravo was one of two cadets selected by his peers to speak in lieu of a guest. He and Mr. Stine talked about the bonds the cadets had formed. On the first day, their only commonality was that “We had a dream; that was to be a police officer,” Mr. Bravo said. “We were nine different people from different parts of the world. We came as strangers. We’re leaving as brothers.”

Both mentioned the difficulty of the academy and that their achievements were possible because their families supported them. “It has been a long eight months of sacrifices,” Stine said.

Mr. Bravo also thanked the instructors and academy director Beverly Deans. “I’ve never met anyone like her. She was there in thick and thin. She never left us,” he said.

Ms. Deans, a Rosewood resident, was also the lauded by WCC President Kay Albertson, who said it was essential to “salute the person who is instrumental in the successes” of both the current cadets and the academy’s graduates. “I know this woman and what she can make you do,” she said.

“Her tireless energy, expertise, and dedication to the law enforcement profession is renown in the state of North Carolina,” said Dr. Albertson of the Rosewood community resident.

Ms. Deans has served as law enforcement training director at the college since 1989. In addition to running the academy, she teaches courses in the criminal justice curriculum program, as well as provides the in-service training for law enforcement and conducts detention officer and telecommunicator certification classes. She currently works as a deputy with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and is a member of a number of local and statewide commissions and committees dealing with the law enforcement profession, education and current issues such as emergency response and terrorism.

Both Dr. Albertson and Ms. Deans talked about the milestone of 50 completed academies in the college’s 50th anniversary year. With this graduating class, the school has produced 801 graduates since its inception as a curriculum program 1987. Currently, WCC graduates work for 43 different law enforcement agencies just in this state.

They have been employed by local departments across the state from the Black Mountain to Ocean Isle and Greensboro to Fayetteville; state agencies that include the Highway Patrol, Alcohol Law Enforcement, Wildlife Resources Commission, Division of Marine Fisheries, Division of Parks and Recreation; Division of Motor Vehicles, and State Bureau of Investigation; federal agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Citizenship and Immigration Services; and even campus and hospital police.

To demonstrate the diversity, Ms. Deans named 50 graduates, many of high rank, and their departments, from throughout the 50 academies. “As you can see, our graduates will not settle for anything less than the best,” Ms. Deans said. “They chose not to stop at the local level but to continue to strive to enhance their careers and professional lives.”

Ms. Deans acknowledged the mental and physical challenges the current recruits had faced during 670 hours of training and congratulated them for their commitment. She told them that “the best weapon you’ll have out there on the street will be your knowledge, and with it comes a strong mind and a willingness to make a difference.”

Most of the graduates have been hired by area law enforcement agencies or have offers pending. Bravo will be working with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office.

WCC’s academy is accredited by the N.C. Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and N.C. Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission through the N.C. Community College System.

WCC started its 51st academy, a day program, on Aug. 20, and will offer another evening session beginning next January. For more information and to obtain a registration/application packet, contact Ms. Deans at 919-735-5151 or bdeans@waynecc.edu.

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