The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office celebrated the graduation of 27 cadets from the Corrections Basic Training Academy on Thursday, July 10.
Following 10 rigorous weeks of training, these graduates are now prepared to begin their careers in the Corrections Division.
Sheriff Dallas Baldwin praised the hard work and determination shown by the cadets throughout their time in the Academy.
“The Training Academy is designed to be challenging, and through your persistence and dedication, you’ve successfully met that challenge,” said Sheriff Baldwin. “You now stand at the beginning of what we hope will be a long career in public service, carrying forward the skills and values learned at the Academy."
These cadets have a wide variety of backgrounds, with ages ranging from 18 to 57, and they represent at least four different countries. Corrections Basic Training Commander Sgt. Dustin Little, who has been with the Sheriff’s Office for 23 years, said this class was one of the best classes he had the honor of commanding.
“They were always respectful, open to constructive criticism, and came each day with a positive attitude,” Sgt. Little said. “These men and women come in as complete strangers from all walks of life and backgrounds of multiple ethnicities, and they become a tight nit group."
The graduation ceremony was held at the Grove City Church of the Nazarene, and additional speakers included the Cadet Class President Joshua Sizemore and the mayor of Grove City, Richard “Ike” Stage, who highlighted the importance of law enforcement in local communities.
“Public safety is the core element required to provide a high quality of life,” said Mayor Stage. “It is my pleasure to welcome this esteemed class of public safety graduates, and a special thanks to Sheriff Baldwin and the staff of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office for keeping us all safe.”
Although the cadets are just starting at the Sheriff’s Office, they are already looking ahead to all the things they can accomplish in their careers.
“I think there are a lot of future leaders in this class; all of them have huge leadership potential,” Sgt. Little said. “They will do big things in the future – Franklin County will be in good hands!”
The next class of cadets will begin the Corrections Basic Training Academy in August, with Signing Day scheduled for Thursday the 21st.
You can watch the full Graduation Ceremony here.
