PITTSFORD, Vt. (WCAX) – Dozens of new police officers are set to join the ranks across Vermont, helping to supplement a force on the decline.
There was one final march on Wednesday for the more than 40 members of the 118th graduating class at the Vermont Police Academy, this time sharing a bond with the person next to them.
“Going through all the difficult challenges and going through all the training really bonded us together these last 17 weeks, and I’m so grateful for each and every single one of them,” Vt. State Tpr. Alyssa Nozka said.
The recruits have been tested both physically and mentally, ranging from patrol procedures, community policing criminal law and much more. They now head to departments across the state for field training which they say they’re ready to take on.
“Gaining more experience, actually being able to do the job, I really liked the scenarios here so that was cool just to actually do it in real life and start to make a difference,” Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Hunter Cota said.
Vermont Police Academy Training Director Ken Hawkins notes the growing need for police officers statewide and is happy to help usher in the next generation of law enforcement.
“We understand the need from every agency that to have the appropriate people, the appropriate officers being able to work in the roles they’re so desperate for is a tremendous gain,” Hawkins said.
“I guess I wanted to kind of take a more active role helping people in cleaning up the problems in the community, and with the growing drug issues and just Vermont getting crazy, I guess now was the time to start,” Cota said.
As the class lowers the colors for the final time, the academy is gearing up for another round of recruits. Day one of the 119th class begins in February.