The Southern Maryland Criminal Justice Academy celebrated the graduation of 22 police recruits at a ceremony held Jan. 11 at North Point High School.

The 22 recruits completed the six-month training program, which began July 14, 2007. Thirteen of the graduating officers joined the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, six joined the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office and three joined the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office.

            At the ceremony, Academy instructors presented awards to students who excelled in four categories. Christopher Barrows of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office earned the physical training and scholastic awards, having achieved a 97.38 percent academic average and 742 out of a possible 800 physical training points. Kevin Borders of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office earned the firearms award with a final firearms score of 99.6 percent. Michael Licausi of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office earned the vehicle operations award.

            The class boasted a 93.1 final class academic average. Their class motto, chosen by the students at the beginning of the training program, was “Adapt and Overcome.”

            Retired Metropolitan Police Department Sergeant and long-time public information officer Joe Gentile was the keynote speaker for the ceremony. Nicholas Valltos, assistant professor of Criminal Justice at the College of Southern Maryland spoke about the articulation agreement between the Academy and the College, which provides each graduate with 15 college credits toward a criminal justice degree. Additionally, the Academy’s board of directors – Charles County Sheriff Rex W. Coffey, St. Mary’s County Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron and the chairman of the board, Calvert County Sheriff Mike Evans – and the class speaker, Charles County Sheriff’s Officer Sheila Weedon, also shared remarks.

            The Southern Maryland Criminal Justice Academy congratulates the following new law enforcement officers:

 

Charles County Sheriff’s Office:

Christopher M. Barrows

Michael J. Beall

Kevin L. Borders

Steven A. Davis

Stephen A. Duley

Jeffery S. Feldman

Reginald A. Forbes

Damein M. Graham

Michael J. Hancock, Jr.

Karl L. Newman

Martin D. Rodriguez

Brock A. Virts

Sheila L. Weedon

 

Calvert County Sheriff’s Office:

Andrew J. Clas

Sarra J. Daniels

Roscoe T. Kreps, III

Jason D. Lord

Ian K. Umphrey

Christopher W. Wells

 

St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office:

Michael A. Licausi

Matthew C. Rogers

James Q. Yates