New officers graduate from MLEOTA

The newest police officers from around the state graduated Thursday from the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Training Academy.

16 WAPT IS OUT.WE’RE EXPLAINS HOW THE ROAD TOBECOMING AN OFFICER WADIFFERENT DURING THE PANDEMIC 36NEW MISSISSIPPI OFFICERS WALKEDACROSS THE STAGE AFTER AGRUELING SEVEN WEEKS AT THEMISSISSIPPI LAW ENFORCEMENTOFFICERS TRAINING ACADEMY 46STRAIGHT DAYS OF CONSTANTCONSTANT CHAOS IN OUR IN OUREYES, BUT IT WAS TOUGH.THE PANDEMIC HAS PUTRESTRICTIONS ON MOST THINGS BUTPOLICE DEPARTMENTS STILL NEEDEDOFFICERS TO BE TRAINED.SO THE ACADEMY IMPROVISEDPUTTING TOGETHER A PROGRAM WHERERECRUITS NEVER LEFT THE BUILDINGPREVIOUSLY CLASSES WERE 12 WEEKSAND RECRUITS.GOT TO GO HOME ON THE WEEKENDSTHIS GROUP QUARANTINE TOGETHERFOR SEVEN WEEKS AFTER MULTIPLECOVID TEST TO TRAIN SAFELY.YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT MINDTO DO IT AS A PROFESSION ON MYCHIEF TOLD US THAT THE ONLY WAYWE CAN COME TO THE ACADEMIES.STAYED SEVEN STRAIGHT WEEKS ATFIRST IT WAS VERY DEPRESSING ANDDISCOURAGING BUT AT THE END OFTHE DAY, THIS IS WHAT WE SIGNEDUP FOR AND THI IS WHAT WE WANTTHE GROUP SPENT OVER 40 DAYS ANDNIGHTS PREPARING TO BECOME ANOFFICER UNDER GRUELINGCONDITIONS.THAT WOULD GET THEM READY FORTHE JOB.THAT’S THE BIGGEST THING THAT ILEARNED HERE IS THINKING BEFOREYOU ACT AND THAT CONCLUDESSPEAKING AND THAT’S WHAT WE NEEDIN OUR PROFESSION IS PEOPLE TOTHINK BEFORE I’VE BEEN THROUGH ALOT AND I SEEN A LOT AN ISTHINGS ARE A COMMUNITY THAT ITHINK THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO FIXNOW THIS MEANT LEAVING BEHINDTHEIR FAMILIES AND FOR ONE NEWOFFICER MISSING THE BIRTH OF HISBABY DAUGHTER.I WROTE EVERY DAY.I WROTE IN MY JOURNAL EVERY DAYABOUT IT.SO SHE HAS LETTERS THAT TOLD HERWHAT I WAS DOING THAT DAY ANDHOW I GOT THROUGH IT AND YOUKNOW HOW I WAS AND HOW STRESSFULIT WAS NOT BEING THERE FOR GUESTSPEAKER, SENATOR CINDYHYDE-SMITH EXPRESSED HER TOTHESE OFFICERS AS THEY STARTTHEIR PATROL THEY PUT THEIRLIVES ON THE LINE EVERY SINGLEDAY FOR US AND THE SECURITY OFTHAT THAT WHEN YOU DIAL 911 ORWHEN YOU CALL THE POLICEDEPARTME SOMEBODY’S ON THEIRWAY LORI, THESE OFFICERS WILLSTART THEIR CAREERS IN APANDEMIC, WHICH MEANS THERE AREADDED CHALLENGES BUT THE ONESTHAT TOOK THE OATH TO SERVE ANDPROTECT SAY IT’S ALL WORTH IT.