Southern Maryland’s newest police officers, who graduated Friday, May 4. Front row: John Foster, Thomas Rickard, Jr., Christina Walden, April Litteral and Kristi Nelson. Second Row: Ryan Johnson, Michael DePaulo, Kurt Burger and Megan Shreiner. Third Row: Nicole Chimko-Fahey, Jeffrey Hitaffer, Richard McCoy, Jeremy Green and Alexander Sullivan. Back Row: James Freeman, John Riffle, Michael Campbell, Michael Boyer, Paul Sady and Scott Ruest.
SOUTHERN MARYLAND - The Southern Maryland Criminal Justice Academy celebrated the graduation of 20 police recruits at a ceremony held Friday, May 4. Twenty students completed the six-month training program, which began October 30, 2006. Nine of the graduating officers joined the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, two joined the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, one joined the La Plata Police Department, and eight joined the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office.
At the ceremony, Academy instructors presented awards to students who excelled in four categories. Tom Rickard of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office earned the physical training award, Jeffrey Hitaffer of the La Plata Police Department earned the firearms award, Michael De Paulo of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office earned the vehicle operations award and Michael Boyer of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office earned the academic award.
The class boasted a 94.1 final class academic average. Their class motto, chosen by the students at the beginning of the training program, was “PUSH: Pride, Unity, Strength, Honor.”
Dr. Sheldon F. Greenberg, Associate Dean at John Hopkins University, served as keynote speaker for the ceremony. Ed Schauf of the College of Southern Maryland’s legal studies department spoke about the articulation agreement between the Academy and the College, which provides each graduate with 15 college credits toward a criminal justice degree. Additionally, the Academy’s board of directors – Charles County Sheriff Rex W. Coffey, St. Mary’s County Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron and the chairman of the board, Calvert County Sheriff Mike Evans – and the class speaker, Student Officer April Litteral, each shared remarks.
The following new law enforcement officers graduated:
Charles County Sheriff’s Office:
Kurt E. Burger
Michael A. DePaulo
John D. Foster
James H. Freeman
Ryan L. Johnson
John A. Riffle
Paul D. Sady
Alexander C. Sullivan IV
Christina A. Walden
Calvert County Sheriff’s Office:
April D. Litteral
Thomas J. Rickard, Jr.
La Plata Police Department:
Jeffrey G. Hitaffer
St. Mary’s County:
Michael A. Boyer
Michael R. Campbell
Nicole C. Chimko-Fahey
Jeremy L. Green
Richard J. McCoy
Kristi M. Nelson
Scott D. Ruest
Megan E. Shreiner