Graduates march into their ceremony from the Northern Michigan University Public Safety Institute on Friday. These 20 graduates would be divided among 12 different law enforcement agencies across the Upper Peninsula. (Journal photo by Antonio Anderson)

MARQUETTE – Northern Michigan University held its Regional Police Academy graduation Friday, which saw 20 graduates who are set to work in 12 various law enforcement agencies across the entire Upper Peninsula.

“It is amazing to see,” said training director Adam Maynard. “All of them are already hired. A lot of the times you’d exit the academy and look for a job. We are so short on officers that departments are hiring to put people in the academy.”

The graduates went through a 16-week course involving a great many aspects of training including martial combat, gun training, textbook work and more.

“It just takes a lot,” said Maynard. “The training, the schedules and all that… It’s a lot of behind the scenes work to get everybody set.”

NMU was able to offer these students a place to work close to home in communities they hold dear. These include: Chocolay, Dickinson County, Gogebic County, Hancock, Hannaville, Houghton, Laurium, Manistique, Marquette, Munising and even at Northern Michigan University.

“Most of the time when you want to be a cop, you want to stay in the area,” Maynard said. “So we are happy that we can send them out and stay in the area.”

The procession was held at the Jacobetti Complex and saw nearly 100 attendees there to celebrate the graduates.

“Congratulations to the friends and families who are here today,” said NMU interim president Gavin Leach. “This is a big milestone for you as well as your graduates. It’s not many that come through this program. In fact, there are 20 here, very special people. You should be proud.”

Through all the excitement and pride through the event, some of the most was held by the students.

“First and foremost on behalf of the entire class I want to extend our thanks to each and every one of our instructors,” said class leader Nicholas Stoner. “Your selfless dedication, sacrificing your time, money, time with your families to insure we receive the highest quality training is something we will carry with us throughout our careers.”

Antonio Anderson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. His email address is aanderson@miningjournal.net.