GVSU Police Academy graduation marks 50 years of training officers

Keynote speaker Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom shared words of encouragement and advice for the recruits who, he said, were entering a field that is constantly changing and evolving.

"Every call that you go on, every traffic stop that you make and every interaction you have, you will be successful if you remember, 'How would I want this police officer to respond if this was a loved one of mine?'" Winstrom said.

The GVSU Police Academy is recognized across the region as one of the premiere education centers for future law enforcement officers. GVPD Chief Brandon DeHaan noted the strong relationship the academy has with West Michigan.

"Leadership in West Michigan law enforcement begins at the Grand Valley Police Academy," Chief DeHaan said. "Our department has been honored to have worked closely with the academy over the last 50 years. Lakers for a Lifetime who graduate from the academy make great police officers within our communities as they are familiar with the mission, vision and values of the university."

Collard mirrored DeHaan's view of leadership of law enforcement coming out of the academy.

"Very rarely can you go to a department that doesn't have several GVSU Police Academy graduates, and a lot of those graduates have risen to significant leadership positions," Collard said. "They are leading the wave of law enforcement into our future."

This fall, the police academy will move from the Allendale Campus to the new Frederick Meijer Campus in Holland.. The move will allow Collard and the academy's instructors to save time with a centralized location making it easier to access equipment for training as well as opening the possibility for the academy to extend its schedule beyond 15 weeks.

"They're working 55 to 65 hours a week most weeks. If we can extend that out to 16 to 17 weeks, then we're going to hit a spot where they're here eight-10 hours and they have enough downtime to balance their training with their studies and time to focus on their family," Collard said.