By GAGE WILSON
for Glasgow News 1
The Cave City Police Department celebrated the graduation of eight residents from its inaugural citizens police academy Tuesday, Nov. 4, at the Cave Area Conference Center.
Beginning at 6 p.m., Officer Adam Maulden acted as the emcee for the ceremony.
“I hope you enjoyed the class and I hope you learned a little bit more about what we do,” Maulden said. “We try to find a peaceful resolution for everybody. It’s not all about going to jail.”
Maulden handed out plaques commemorating the graduates time, the first going to one of the younger members of the class: Noah Covey.
“It was definitely an experience,” Covey said. “I may not have been the most verbal person, but I did listen and I learned a lot.”
On the other end of the spectrum was graduate Floyd Dodd, who admitted to a healthy curiosity about law enforcement and its practices.
“I did ask a lot of questions and many were answered,” Dodd said. “I learned a lot about your guys’ [CCPD] perspective, and it’s a class more people should come to.”
His comment was met with affirmation from Police Chief Paul Reynolds who spearheaded the academy.
As each graduate came to receive their honors, only one was given a time limit to talk: the verbose mayor of Cave City, Dwayne Hatcher.
“I got to go to the jail, I’ve never stepped foot in there…I mean I didn’t want to step foot in there in a bad way,” he joked. “It was all very, very educational though.”
With the ceremony ended, graduates, officers, and supporters spoke about the future of the program. The plan is to offer the class twice a year in the spring and fall, according to Reynolds. Residents interested should monitor the city’s social media for the next session.
Jennifer McNett, director of Cave City Tourism, floated an alumni program for the graduates. The program, as she described, would be a network of individuals who have gone through the academy that the department could call on to help organize fundraisers, make donations and essentially assist the department in whatever capacity that they are able.
Organizers were optimistic that the program will grow as it is offered.
“Word of mouth is the best advertisement,” Hatcher said.
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