Angelina College Law Enforcement Academy Class 115 Graduates in Style
By GARY STALLARD
AC News Service
Every law enforcement officer knows things don’t always go according to plan.
On Thursday, a group of newly graduating cadets experienced a big taste of that very fact.
Angelina College Law Enforcement Academy’s Class 115 – along with friends and families – gathered in Hudgins Hall for their graduation ceremony, only to have the power fail as strong storms raged through East Texas.
No problem. Those current law enforcement officers on-hand for the ceremony simply broke out their service flashlights and lit up the auditorium well enough to shine deserved attention on the future LEOs.
AC Chief of Police Doug Conn praised the nine members who remained following the grueling, 10 1/2 -week program, reminding them just how far they’ve come.
“You’ve already come so far in your mission,” Conn said, “and I have no doubt you’ll continue to serve your communities well.”
Academy Training Manager Lt. Jack Stephenson addressed the cadets and crowd, reminding the new LEOs to remember their burden is a shared one.
“Take a look at the people behind you,” Stephenson said. “Look at your families, and remember that in everything you do, they’ll be right there with you.”
Cadet John Donihoo earned valedictorian honors, edging out a highly competitive group by .07 points. Justyn Matthews earned the Top Gun honor; Gregory Mottu was Best Driver; and Nicholas Tenney earned a “cookie” for perfect attendance.
The new graduates, along with their listed home towns, are as follows: Dillon M. Crymes (Whitehouse, TX), John A. Donihoo (McKinney, TX), John H. Hasbun (Porterville, CA), Montana B. Long (Denton County, TX), Justyn T. Matthews (Lufkin, TX), Gregory J. Mottu (Missouri City, TX), Jose A. Ocon (Nacogdoches, TX), Nicholas W. Tenney (Houston, TX) and Joseph T. Windsor, Jr. (Mesa, AZ).
Angelina College was issued a license to operate a police academy in 12 East Texas counties in September of 1993 by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). The academy offers basic and in-service training courses at sites throughout Deep East Texas with the assistance of an advisory board, which assists in directing the academy.
Academy staff members include Doug Conn, Chief of Police; Lt. Jack Stephenson, Training Manager; Officer Ashley Jowell, Training Manager; and Kim Capps, Administrative Assistant.
For information on the AC Police Academy, email policeacademy@angelina.edu.
Photo caption:
Members of Angelina College Law Enforcement Academy’s Class 115 pose following Thursday’s graduation ceremony. Despite a power outage in the Hudgins Hall Auditorium, the nine new law enforcement officers received their certifications after nearly 11 weeks of training. (Gary Stallard/AC News Service photo)