Montgomery County Community College recently held its graduation for its Municipal Police Academy. Among the 41 graduates were Derek Smith of Lafayette Hill, the class valedictorian, and Todd M. Barnes, Plymouth Meeting.

Of the graduating class members, 24 cadets were sponsored by area police departments coming into the Academy. Eleven cadets received conditional offers upon completion of the program. The cadets took the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission exam on June 11th, the final hurdle on the path to becoming law enforcement officers.

Cadets go through a rigorous vetting process before entering the Academy, followed by 919 hours of training and 26 exams, said Georgette Hill, ’86, director of the Municipal Police Academy.

Cadet Derek Smith told his classmates the decision to become a police officer is a difficult one, but the reason to put on the badge is “to make a positive difference in the world around us.”

“Every decision we make in this line of work has the potential to be picked apart and judged,” he said. “Those decisions may alter the lives of those we serve and can be made in a matter of seconds. Yet we must respond to every call ready to act.”

Photo: Linda Johnson