VGCC Graduates 6 Certified Detention Officers

Four officers from Vance County and two from Granville County graduated April 25 in the 29th class of the Vance-Granville Community College Detention Officer Certification School.

Doris K. Crews, Chris J. Freudeman, Robert L. Harris and Ruby Peace Shearin of Vance County Sheriff’s Department and Kenneth M. Dalton and Homer L. White Jr. of Granville County Sheriff’s Department completed the 164 hours of instruction and passed the state certification exam to achieve graduation.

Officer James Moore of the Person County Detention Center, himself a graduate of the VGCC Detention Officer Certification School, was the speaker for the graduation.

Moore told the graduates they represent the progress North Carolina is making in detention. “They used to hire jailers off the street, and with very little training, they were thrown in with the jail population,” he said.

“As a result of your training, you are professionals, and we need professionals in the criminal justice system,” Moore said.

“We hear a lot about the thin blue line, the police officers who stand between our citizens and the criminal population,” the speaker said. “You are the back-up team for that line. You are an integral part of the law enforcement system.”

CERTIFIED OFFICERS– Graduating April 25 from the 29th Detention Officer Certification School at Vance-Granville Community College were, front, from left: Chris J. Freudeman, Ruby Peace Shearin and Doris K. Crews, all of Vance County Sheriff’s Department; second row, from left: Homer L. White Jr. and Kenneth M. Dalton of Granville County Sheriff’s Department, and Robert L. Harris of Vance County Sheriff’s Department. At the back is Melvin Smith, retired Henderson chief of police, the school director.