It was hard. It was challenging. Not everyone made it.
But after walking across the stage and receiving his Lackawanna College Police Academy diploma, Cadet Tyler Watson knew the hours he poured into training was worth it.
"It was a long 785 hours," Mr. Watson of Lewisburg said. "I feel very accomplished. We all followed our dreams to get here."
Mr. Watson, the class president, and eight other cadets from Hazleton Class 205 graduated from the college's police academy Friday night in front of cheering family and friends in Mellow Theater.
Academy Director Dan Duffy said the cadets met the standards laid before them by the municipal officer training program.
"They aren't given these certificates. They earn it," Mr. Duffy said.
Graduates included James Baptiste of Freeland; Brandon J. Cohick of Coal Twp.; Jennifer L. Dempsey of Weatherly; Ryan J. Engle of Ringtown; Tori L. Harrison of Bloomsburg; John C. Kaczmarczyk of Mahanoy City; Philip J. Mainiero of West Hazleton and Rhonda A. Paisley of Drifton.
Mr. Kaczmarczyk won the driving and high scholastics awards, while Mr. Watson took home the firearms award.
Mr. Duffy and the police academy also awarded a Lifetime Service Award plaque to former state police officer and "living legend" Gerald Tallo, who served as a trooper from 1951-1986 and also served as an instructor at Lackawanna College Police Academy from 1975-2005.
Hazleton Class 205 also adopted Philadelphia Police Department Highway Patrol Sgt. Patrick McDonald as their class's fallen officer. Sgt. McDonald was killed in the line of duty in 2008 when a traffic stop turned into chase, where he was ultimately shot and killed by the suspect.
Mr. Duffy said the class would carry Sgt. McDonald's memory on through their dedicated service and good police work.
"Understand that when you get hired at a police department, you're serving for others, too," he said.
Contact the writer: ksullivan@timesshamrock.com, @ksullivanTT on Twitter