BRTC Law Enforcement Graduation to Be Held April 21

Walt Coleman, NFL referee and Hiland Dairy controller, will address law enforcement officers who have successfully completed the Basic Police Training Course at Black River Technical College Law Enforcement Training Academy during graduation ceremonies in Pocahontas on Friday, April 21. Coleman resides in Little Rock and is a sixth-generation family operator for Hiliand between NFL games and during off season.

Graduation ceremonies begin at 1:00 p.m. in Randolph County Development Center on the campus of BRTC. Class spokesperson for the graduating class is Samantha Mitchusson of the Arkansas State University Police Department.

The 56 officers from across the state began the thirteen week, 577-hour training course January 23, 2017. Instruction included standard police tactics, firearms, legal, education, technical skills, and practical exercises. In each course, emphasis is placed upon the officers achieving excellence in both academic subjects and firearms training. An officer must maintain a minimum of an academic score of 70% on each examination and consistently fire at least 80% during firearms training exercises to successfully complete all phases of the course.

The public is invited to the graduation ceremony and to the reception immediately following.