WCCC police academy graduates 32 cadets
Westmoreland County Community College recently graduated 32 police academy cadets from its Municipal Police Officers' Training Academy.
Instructor Albert Rivardo was guest speaker at a ceremony Nov. 21. Rivardo, an agent with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, has been with the Westmoreland police academy since 1995 and has been in law enforcement for more than 20 years.
The academy celebrated its 38th year and has both a part-time and full-time academy. The 800-hour program trains students to become police officers in Pennsylvania cities, boroughs and townships.
Cadets also become emergency first responders and are certified in CPR, Incident Command, the National Incident Management System and tactical skills. The academy has 25 instructors, including working officers, investigators and leaders from throughout southwest Pennsylvania as well as a practicing attorney and a district judge.
Graduates James Garlick of Point Marion and Tabatha Wolfe of Fayette City earned special recognition for academic excellence. The Firearms Proficiency Award went to Garlick and David Johnston of Penn Township. The Driving Proficiency Award went to Garlick and Kelsea Lander of Herminie. The President's Leadership Award went to Michael Beachy of Markleysburg and David Johnston.
The graduates from Class 46 were Beachy; Curtis Bukovan, Uniontown; Zachary Chamblee, Calhoun, Ga.; Matthew DeChicchis, Jeannette; Troy Faulk and Zachary Vernail, Greensburg; Justin Folwer-Hott, North Huntingdon; Garlick; Olivia Harshell, Penn; Jerry Hobeck and Tyler Kowall, McKeesport; Christopher Kovacs, Penn Township; Chad Shoupe, Vandergrift; and Ross Welshons, Manor.
The graduates from Class 47 were Andrew Carter, John Popovich and Cody Stanoszek, North Huntingdon; Ryan Dinizio, New Stanton; Johnston; Tyler Kascak, West Mifflin; Kelsea Lander; Zachary Lukon, New Derry; Marla Matis and Troy Modrak, North Huntingdon; Alexander Niehaus, Mt. Pleasant; Patrick O'Neill, Latrobe; Nathan Roy, Irwin; Michael Shabe and Paige Wallace, Greensburg; James Shaw, Connellsville; Ashley Sousa, Hudson, Mass.; and Wolfe.
