Friends, family, and community members gathered on May 2 at the Conference Center at Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s Gordon County Campus in Calhoun to celebrate 13 students graduating from Basic Law Enforcement Training Class BL11-2025-01.

The Basic Law Enforcement program trains graduates to become entry-level law enforcement officers who are certified by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST). Guest speaker Whitfield County Sheriff Darren J. Pierce emphasized the significance of the badge, stating it symbolizes a promise and the public’s trust in officers to protect and serve. He highlighted that wearing the badge means choosing a life of responsibility that requires courage and integrity.

Zachary Taylor served as the student speaker for the ceremony. Emalee Weaver received the Academic (Honor Graduate) Award for having the highest GPA and also won the “Top Gun” award for marksmanship. Weaver achieved seven perfect scores in shooting, even with a bandaged thumb from a prior injury. She was humorously presented with the “Throbbing Thumb Award” for this achievement.

At the end of the ceremony, graduates recited the Oath of Honor, pledging to uphold their badge, integrity, and community. Graduates from this class include Jamal Bragg, Isaac Casey, Greg Gregory, Kevin Lively, Joshua McClure, Justin Middlebrooks, Ethan Patino, Wesley Stewart, Zachary Taylor, Scott Thompson, Emalee Weaver, James Williams, and Tucker Wilson.

Casey and Stewart work at the Murray County Sheriff’s Office, while Bragg, McClure, Taylor, Thompson, and Wilson are with the Walker County Sheriff’s Office. Lively, Middlebrooks, Weaver, and Williams are employed by the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office, and Gregory and Patino are preservice.