GNTC Basic POST Certification graduation held July 22

Friends, family and the community gathered in the Conference Center at Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s (GNTC) Gordon County Campus in Calhoun on July 22 to honor 12 students graduating from Basic POST Certification Class #BPC1-2024-07.

The Basic POST Certification (BPC) program is designed to train and prepare graduates for employment as entry-level Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) certified police officers. The 11-week program is part of GNTC’s Law Enforcement Academy.

Jim Pledger, program director and instructor of the Law Enforcement Academy at GNTC, said in the last 40 years he has worked in law enforcement, “laws, case law, interest in law enforcement as a career, technology and attitudes towards law enforcement officers have changed.”

Pledger told the graduates that he sees those changes happening more rapidly for them.

“It will take those who are dedicated to lead this profession into the future,” he said. “You are the future. To meet that future, I want you to seek advanced training. Seek higher education.”

Megan Baggett served as the student speaker for the ceremony. Houston Henry was presented with the “Top Gun” award for excellence in marksmanship. Mitchell Bandy and Anthony Warrick received the Academic (Honor Graduate) Award for having the highest grade point average.

Graduates recited their Oath of Honor at the conclusion of the ceremony, vowing “On my honor, I will never betray my badge, my integrity, my character or the public trust. I will always have the courage to hold myself and others accountable for our actions. I will always uphold the Constitution, my community and the agency I serve.”

(From left, front row) Richard Craig, Coleton Carlock, John Blankenship, Kaden Baucom, Mitchell Bandy, Megan Baggett; (back row) Anthony Warrick, William Sullivan, Jeremy Rice, Richard Jackson, Caleb Hobbs and Houston Henry are graduates of GNTC’s Basic POST Certification Class #BPC1-2024-07.

Graduates of GNTC’s Basic POST Certification Class #BPC1-2024-07 are Megan Baggett, Mitchell Bandy, Kaden Baucom, John Blankenship, Coleton Carlock, Richard Craig, Houston Henry, Caleb Hobbs, Richard Jackson, Jeremy Rice, William Sullivan and Anthony Warrick.

A majority of the graduates are already employed in law enforcement.

Coleton Carlock and Houston Henry are employed by the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office.

Richard Craig, Caleb Hobbs and Anthony Warrick are employed by the Walker County Sheriff’s Office.

Mitchell Bandy, Jeremy Rice and William Sullivan are employed by the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office.

Kaden Baucom is employed by the Calhoun Police Department; Richard Jackson is employed by the Chatsworth Police Department.

Megan Baggett and John Blankenship are pre-service.