NAHUNTA — The 23rd annual Jr. Police Academy held its graduation Friday with 33 cadets receiving their diplomas.
The graduation ceremony was held inside Brantley County Middle School gymnasium.
Kingsland Chief of Police Ricky Evans served as the guest speaker for the ceremony. Cadets Amelia Milo and Colt Kirton sang the National Anthem, Cadet Cayden Julio gave the opening prayer with Cadet Jackson Stone closing the ceremony with a prayer.
Special recognition was given to Mike Mercier.
Cadet Ryder Minchew was the recipient of the coveted Mike Mercier Top Cop award. Cadet India Burnett earned Top Academic honors. Cadet Raymond Highsmith was named Top Shot while Cadet Jackson Stone received Top Maneuvers.
The Top Team was the Grey Team led by Staff Team Leader Game Warden Mario Dixon, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Jr. Staff Team Leader Judianah Blount, Cadet India Burnett, Cadet Selena Griffin, Cadet Hailey Hutcherson, Cadet Luka Lattanzie and Cadet Ryder Minchew.
The Top Crime Scene team award was presented to the Red Team led by Brantley County Probate Judge Jonathan McMillan and consisted of Staff Team Leader Cody Russell, Cadet Kimberly Casavant, Cadet Harlow Dixon, Cadet Willow Highnote, Cadet Cayden Julio, Cadet Kinslee McLean, Cadet Sophia Popwell and Cadet Krisalyn Wilson.
Three other teams also competed in the weeklong event. The Green Team was led by Staff Team Leader Caleb Worley, Georgia Department of Community Supervision and consisted of Jr. Staff Team Leader Amelia Ann Blount, Cadet Christian Boyd, Cadet Ranasha Chewning Cadet Georgia Goinsalvos, Cadet Colt Kirton, Cadet Amelia Milo, Cadet Patrick Schrack and Cadet Jackson Stone.
The Brown Team was led by Investigator Mark Stone Brantley County Sheriff’s Office. The team consisted of Jr. Staff Team Leader Jude Barnaby, Cadet Kynzlii Alvarado, Cadet Nathan Casavant, Cadet Annabell Gibson Cadet Raymond Highsmith, Cadet Ashlyn Mc-Dowell, Cadet Raylynn Sarro, Cadet Paisleigh Stephens and Cadet Walker Wilson.
The Orange Team was led by SRO Wyatt Blount of the Brantley County School Police Department and was made up of Jr. Staff Team Leader Gracey Rockey, Cadet Nyomi Burnett, Cadet Kayln Crosby, Cadet Cadee Harper, Cadet Kimberly Jacobs, Cadet Justin Mathis and Cadet Shelby Phillips.
The Gopher Staff consisted of Jr. Staff Caden Milo and Napolean Platt, Staff Team Leaders Sam Wyatt Blount and Dakota Feldpusch, Sheriff Len Davis, and Staff Team Leader Jeremiah Maine.
The Shutterbug Staff was made up of Team Leaders Destiny Myers and Morgan Rent, and Jr. Staff Trinity Hall.
Presenters and supporters for the event were Air Evac, Brantley County Clerk of Court, Brantley County Coroner, Brantley County E-911, Brantley County EMS, Brantley County Family Connection, Brantley County Probate Court, Brantley County School Resource Officers, Brantley County Sheriff’s Office and K9 Units, Camden County Sheriff’s Office K9 Units, City of Nahunta Police Department, Coastal Area Traffic Enforcement Network, Georgia Bureau of Investigation , Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Department of Natural Resources Game Management Division, Georgia Department of Public Safety, Motor Carriers Compliance Division, Georgia Department of Community Supervision, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Trauma Commission, Hoboken Volunteer Fire Department and First Responders, Magnolia House, Mobile Communications America, Nahunta Volunteer Fire Department and First Responders, Satilla Advocacy Services, Southeast Health District, U.S. Marshal, Waycross Family Justice Center and Waycross S.W.A.T.
Sponsors of the event were the Brantley County Board of Commission, Brantley County Board of Education, Brantley County Family Connection, Brantley County Middle School, Brantley County Probate Court, Brantley County Sheriff’s Office, City of Hoboken Police Department, Coca Cola Bottling Company, Georgia Department of Community Supervision, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia State Patrol, Jalapeños Mexican Restaurant, Lang BBQ Smokers, Mac 44 Trucking, Mobile Communications Americ, Pepsi, , Resilient Georgia, Stewart’s Candy Company and Thomas and Son’s Wrecker Service.
