Two locals among recent graduates of Montco's Municipal Police Academy

Montgomery County Community College’s held its inaugural drive-in graduation ceremony for the 31 cadets of the College’s Municipal Police Academy on the evening of October 2nd at the Blue Bell Campus. Locals graduating with the class were Haylie Brass of Ambler (pictured above) and Gregory Filoon of Blue Bell.

Sissy Hill, Temporary Director of the Municipal Police Academy, thanked the law enforcement community for its support of the program, including the Bensalem Police Department, Bristol Township Police Department, Ephrata Police Department, Lower Moreland Township Police Department, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department and the City of Reading for sponsoring and hiring several of the graduates.

“Challenges require us to tap into our inner strength, a strength we may not realize we have until moments like this when we find ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic,” said Dr. Bastecki-Perez, president of the college. “You also learned during this time to rely upon each other and your Montco family, who was there for you every step of the way, and will continue to be there for you throughout your career. I’m proud to acknowledge that every cadet who started this class is graduating tonight. No Mustang was left behind!”

Guest speaker, Robert Sands, one of the instructors at the Police Academy and trainer for the Abington Police Department, told the graduates that this is “the greatest job in the world because it matters.”

“No other job gives the kind of reward that law enforcement does,” said Sands in a video-recorded message. “In law enforcement, you don’t get to pick the day, the day picks you. So you have to be prepared for that day. Is it worth it? I say to you, ‘absolutely, it’s worth it.’”

Since 1973, the Police Academy has been the training center for more than 3,500 cadets with a consistent graduation rate of more than 90 percent. The 919-hour curriculum allows successful students to articulate up to 15 credit hours toward an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice. The Academy is certified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission. Many of the Academy’s alumni serve as officers and in leadership roles throughout Montgomery County and the region. MCCC operates the Municipal Police Academy in the Health Sciences Center at the Blue Bell Campus.

Top image – Courtesy of Haylie Brass

Two locals among recent graduates of Montco’s Municipal Police Academy