GVSU Police Academy celebrates 57th graduating class on Valley Campus

After 17 weeks of training, the Grand Valley State University Police Academy's summer cadre celebrated their graduation. The academy's 24 recruits, their instructors and their families filled the Louis Armstrong Theatre on August 26.

Academy Director Geoffrey Collard said that every class of recruits takes on its own personality, and this summer's was no different, with a strong camaraderie among the group.

"Ultimately you all learned from each other," said Collard, addressing the recruits. "You shared every type of emotion during the past 17 weeks, but overall you have shown a tremendous amount of resiliency."

The GVSU Police Academy is recognized as one of the top academies in the state. Sherril Soman, dean of the College of Education and Community Innovation, emphasized the academy's long-held practice of going beyond Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement standards for instruction hours.

Classes on de-escalation, unbiased policing and decision making, individual mental health and well-being and community team building were among the additional instruction hours.

"That preparation produces remarkable results," Soman said, citing the academy's 93 percent program completion rate, 98 percent licensing exam pass rate and 98 percent employment rate. "Those numbers are impressive, but ultimately, the measure of this program and of each of you will be found in how you serve. Policing, at its best, can strengthen communities, build trust and make a meaningful difference in people's lives."