VGCC law enforcement educator named to state committee

Tony R. Pendergrass, the coordinator of law enforcement training for Vance-Granville Community College, was recently selected to serve on the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission Accreditation Committee. Pendergrass and his family live in Granville County near Franklinton.

The Accreditation Committee evaluates both initial and renewal applications for accreditation of Criminal Justice schools throughout the state, reviews and revises state accreditation standards, and makes recommendations for administrative rule changes. Committee members seek to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all course participants, as well as the integrity and consistency of course delivery. Pendergrass is now one of the two committee members appointed by an advisory group of his colleagues at various criminal justice schools.

Pendergrass has served as an instructor and coordinator of law enforcement training at VGCC since 2001. In that capacity, Pendergrass supervises part-time instructors and develops new training programs for area law enforcement agencies and the North Carolina Department of Correction. He supervises cadets in Basic Law Enforcement Training and Detention Officer Certification classes. Pendergrass draws upon his experience with the Henderson Police Department, where he worked from 1989 through 2001, rising to the rank of lieutenant. Pendergrass graduated from VGCC with an associate degree in Criminal Justice Technology . He is also a graduate of the N.C. Justice Academy Law Institute. Pendergrass is a former president of the North Carolina Law Enforcement Training Officers Association. In 2008, VGCC President Randy Parker honored Pendergrass with a President’s Leadership Award.

Above: Tony Pendergrass speaks at a VGCC graduation ceremony for Basic Law Enforcement Training cadets. (VGCC photo)