CALHOUN, GA — Thirteen cadets from Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s (GNTC) Basic Law Enforcement Academy were honored during a graduation ceremony held May 2 at the college’s Conference Center on the Gordon County Campus.
Family members, friends, and community supporters gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of Basic Law Enforcement Training Class #BL11-2025-01, whose members successfully completed the rigorous Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) program designed to prepare them for entry-level law enforcement positions.
Whitfield County Sheriff Darren J. Pierce, the ceremony’s guest speaker, delivered a message of duty and sacrifice. “That badge isn’t just a symbol; it’s a promise,” Pierce told the graduates. “It represents the trust the public places in you to protect, to serve, to act justly and to stand in the gap when others cannot or will not.”
“When you wear that badge, you are telling the world you have chosen a life not of comfort, but of conviction,” he continued. “The badge that you wear is earned; it is not given.”
Class member Zachary Taylor served as the student speaker.
Graduate Emalee Weaver earned both the Academic (Honor Graduate) Award for achieving the highest grade point average and the “Top Gun” award for marksmanship excellence. According to instructor Donnie Pledger, Weaver made history by scoring a total of seven perfect shots—three during practice and four during qualification—despite having suffered a broken thumb before firearms training began. In recognition, she was humorously awarded the “Throbbing Thumb Award.”
“Five students shot perfect scores at some point during training. We’ve never had that many,” said Pledger. “But Weaver went above and beyond, achieving perfect scores with all the weapons we issued.”
The ceremony concluded with graduates reciting the Oath of Honor, pledging to uphold their integrity, accountability, and commitment to the Constitution and the communities they will serve.
Graduates from Class #BL11-2025-01 include:
Jamal Bragg, Isaac Casey, Greg Gregory, Kevin Lively, Joshua McClure, Justin Middlebrooks, Ethan Patino, Wesley Stewart, Zachary Taylor, Scott Thompson, Emalee Weaver, James Williams, and Tucker Wilson.
Several graduates are already employed by regional law enforcement agencies:
Murray County Sheriff’s Office: Isaac Casey and Wesley Stewart
Walker County Sheriff’s Office: Jamal Bragg, Joshua McClure, Zachary Taylor, Scott Thompson, and Tucker Wilson
Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office: Kevin Lively, Justin Middlebrooks, Emalee Weaver, and James Williams
Preservice graduates (not yet employed): Greg Gregory and Ethan Patino
GNTC serves northwest Georgia by offering associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates in a range of career fields, including public safety, health care, business, and industrial technologies. Last year, over 13,000 individuals participated in credit and non-credit training programs through the college. For more information, visit www.GNTC.edu.
Graduates of GNTC’s Basic Law Enforcement Training Class #BL11-2025-01 are (from left, front row) Justin Middlebrooks, Joshua McClure, Kevin Lively, Greg Gregory, Isaac Casey, Jamal Bragg, (back row) Tucker Wilson, James Williams, Emalee Weaver, Scott Thompson, Zachary Taylor, Wesley Stewart and Ethan Patino.
Emalee Weaver (left) receives the Academic (Honor Graduate) Award for having the highest grade point average from Jim Pledger, program director and instructor of GNTC’s Basic Law Enforcement Academy. Weaver also received the “Top Gun” award for excellence in marksmanship.
Zachary Taylor (front) serves as the student speaker for the ceremony as (from left) Thomas Petty, BLE Academy instructor and records; Gary McConathy instructor and class coordinator of BLE Academy; and Jim Pledger, program director and instructor of the BLE Academy, listen.
