A fresh round of cadets are ready to serve and protect after graduating from the Mercyhurst University Municipal Police Training Academy.
“To protect and serve.” — That’s what 14 cadets graduating from Mercyhurst University’s Municipal Police Training Academy have sworn to do as they enter their new careers.
A grueling six months of training their mind and body has led to this moment.
“It’s all of the classroom stuff, physical training, defensive driving, firearms training. Just a basic training academy. In six months, they’ve done about 959 hours,” said Bill Hale, Mercyhurst Municipal Police Academy’s director.
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The course prepares students to become police officers, park rangers, municipal authority officers and other positions within the criminal justice system and law enforcement realm.
It was a long time coming for one cadet, who received top honors when graduating.
“I’m from the Middle East. I’ve seen a lot of crime,” said Hamid Mobin, a police academy graduate, “Then I came here and it was a journey. A long journey. It was tough. And I always wanted to be a police officer.”