SJRCC PRESS RELEASE April 2008 SJRCC law enforcement, corrections cadets recognized St. Johns River Community College criminal justice academy cadets were recently recognized during a graduation ceremony. Cadets who completed the certificate program for the law enforcement basic recruit and corrections basic recruit programs will be eligible to take the state certification exam. The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, St. Augustine Police Department and Clay County Sheriff's Office opened the ceremony with the "presentation of the colors" followed by the cadets reciting the code of ethics. The guest speaker was St. Johns County resident Kenneth Tucker, assistant commissioner for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Tucker reminded the cadets of the importance of integrity. "Your integrity is your authority and license to do your job," Tucker said. "And be proud of what you do. Most of you joined because you want to make a difference. Let that be your driving force." Special recognition in the basic law enforcement class went to St. Johns County resident Christopher Bohannon for "Most Proficient in Firearms" and to Putnam County resident Hancel Woods for "The Medallion Award" and "Highest Academic Achiever." Special recognition in the corrections class went to St. Johns County resident Robert Mathis for "The Medallion Award," to Putnam County resident Preston Pryce for "Highest Academic Achiever," and to St. Johns County resident James Baer for "Most Proficient in Firearms." Law enforcement basic recruit graduates from St. Johns County are: Shawn Bishara, Christopher Bohannon, Russell Burns Jr., James Gilner, Brian Love, Mitchel McQuaig, Nathan Valdes and Christopher Wolfle. Law enforcement basic recruit graduates from Clay County are: Christine Byrne, Cynthia Johnson, Kodiak Looney, James Stanford, Shannon Toro, Benjamin Wase and Fred Weber. Law enforcement basic recruit graduates from Putnam County are: Kyle Custer, Owen Moody, Jessica Penrose and Hancel Woods. Law enforcement basic recruit graduates from Duval County are: Michele DeLa Fuente, Bryan Doyle, Willie Horton, Andrew Huskey, Joseph Mott, Mark Pearyer, Roger Prendergast, Deborah Price, Veronica Richardson, Michael Wheeler and Timothy Wilson. Law enforcement basic recruit graduates from other surrounding counties are: Brian Almberg, Valerie McFarlane and James Morse of Flagler County, and Jeffrey Hatton of Nassau County and Eric Horne of Camden County. Corrections graduates from St. Johns County are: James Baer, Matthew Brian, Charity Benton, Robert Mathis and Sanh Van Vo. Corrections graduates from Clay County are: Bryan Murray, Hollie Peterson, Jordon Spaulding and William Wardell. Corrections graduates from Putnam County are: William DeMeritt, Leland Evans, Jason Grennan, Marvel Hagen, Veronica Hinman, Preston Pryce, James Ramos, Charles Silvassy and Dean Swart. Corrections graduates from Duval County are: Jacob Bach, Jared Bludsworth, Matthew Mann, Christopher Prout and Tammy Zier. Brian Beloit of Clay County and William Secure of St. Johns County earned the crossover law enforcement to corrections certificate. The ceremony was held at the Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts. The THCA is owned and operated by SJRCC and is located on the Orange Park Campus. The criminal justice certificate programs provide job-related training to prepare cadets for entry-level employment in their career field. The certificates also provide credit hours to be transferred into SJRCC's associate in science degree in criminal justice officer administration. The program is located on the St. Augustine Campus. Classes for law enforcement basic recruit will begin in August. Classes for corrections basic recruit begin in September. For more information, contact the Criminal Justice Department at (904) 808-7490. Photo captions: Top Photo - Special awards were given to the corrections cadets at the SJRCC criminal justice graduation ceremony. From left SJRCC instructor Melinda Padgett, St. Johns County resident Robert Mathis received the "The Medallion Award," Putnam County resident Preston Pryce received the "Highest Academic Achiever Award" and St. Johns County resident James Baer received the "Most Proficient in Firearms Award." Bottom Photo - Special awards were given to the law enforcement cadets at the SJRCC criminal justice graduation ceremony. From left St. Johns County resident Christopher Bohannon received the "Most Proficient in Firearms" award; Putnam County resident Hancel Woods received "The Medallion Award" and "Highest Academic Achiever" awards; and SJRCC instructor Les Stern. Return to SJRCC home page.