Page 8 - 207872Winter19

LERTA grad’s diligence pays off
— By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor
tyler Donnelly worked hard to do well at Law Enforcement Regional Training Academy (LERTA) and his efforts paid off quite literally with a $2,000 Law Enforcement Education Program (LEEP) Award.
Donnelly was one of nine pre-service cadets in the academy’s graduating class of 20. As pre-service, Donnelly paid his way through the Mott Community College academy. That’s a hardship for many pre-service cadets since most of them, including Donnelly, don’t have
Photo courtesy of LERTA
POLC Executive Committee member Collin Birnie (left) presents the LEEP Award to Tyler Donnelly during his police academy graduation Dec. 20, 2018.
the time or energy to work during the intensive academy training. “He met the quali cations (of the LEEP Award) and his GPA was
94.26,” said LERTA Director Lt. David Livingston.
Donnelly said he was shocked when he received the LEEP Award
at graduation Dec. 20. “It was just a nice thing to add to the spirits of the graduation ceremony,” he said. “It’s nice to be appreciated for the work that I put in to keep that high grade point average. And it de nitely helps with putting myself through the academy.”
The 23-year-old obtained his associates degree in Criminal Justice at Mott Community College and his bachelor’s degree from Ferris State University. He began his criminal justice education at Univer- sity of Michigan Flint and worked in the U of M Public Safety Depart- ment for a semester before transferring to Mott. At Mott, he at- tended a cooperative program between the community college and Ferris State to obtain his associates and bachelor’s degrees. He also completed an internship with the Village of Holly Police Department while in college.
“We patrolled the campus and gave out a few parking warnings and documented some lost property and it was good to get a little bit of experience that way,” Donnelly said. “With the internship, it’s good to get experience with every aspect of the police department and get a little feel of what I was looking for in the future.”
Donnelly is interviewing for Police Of cer positions in Michigan. “I just hope to stay at whichever department I start at and move my way up the ranks and see where it goes from there,” he said. d
NEW DATES DON’T MISS OUT NEW LOCATION
2019 POLC/GELC ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Sunday, August 25th – Tuesday, August 27th
Sunday Evening
Outdoor Cocktail Reception
Monday Afternoon
New Activities
GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT & SPA 100 Grand Traverse Village Blvd. Acme, MI 49601
Great Agenda!
The Police Of cers Journal
8 • WINTer 2019