The Mercyhurst University Police Academy graduated its 126th class, comprising 16 cadets who completed the program.
Family and friends gathered at Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center on Mercyhurst’s campus to recognize cadets who completed the sixth-month program.
“It always makes us proud,” said Bill Hale, director of Mercyhurst Police Academy. “We have been here a long time, the program has been here a long time. It’s always good to know that the people we put out of the academy are respected, do a good job, and serve the community well. I’m happy with the product, if you want to call it that, the product that we deliver to the community.”
During the program, the cadets underwent physical, tactical, and academic training to prepare them for a career in law enforcement.
Each cadet entered with a different background or reason for wanting to enter into a career in law enforcement. Cadet Brandon Drayer served in the U.S. Military after graduating from Fort LeBoeuf High School. He served as military police at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, KS. Following his service in the military, Drayer saw law enforcement as the next way to serve.
“Obviously, I grew up here my whole life; it’s even a bigger accomplishment for me, being able to protect them and serve them,” said Drayer.
Fellow cadet Louden Gledhill grew up in Crawford County. He is set to join the Conneaut Lake Police Department. He said the focus was to return to serve the community in which he grew up.
“It means a lot. I know a lot of people from the area,” said Gledhill. “I grew up down on the lake fishing, boating, and doing that stuff. So it just means a lot to be able to go back and serve that community that I grew up around and with and just help those people there.”