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A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
Graduating student Boyd Billman speaks during the FDLTCC Law Enforcement Skills Training ceremony Friday at the college. The skills session is the most intensive part of the program.
Law enforcement graduates take their oath of honor. Program director Wade Lamirande said the oath is similar to that which officers take when they are sworn in by the City of Cloquet. "I tell them 'As long as you obey the oath, you're not going to have any problems," Lamirande said.
Despite Covid-19, despite protests that called for defunding the police, last week Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College graduated every single student who enrolled in the law enforcement training program two years ago. The students made it through the difficult program and faced other challenges from Covid-19 to some who lost jobs and housing.
"I was really excited and proud of this class," said program director Wade Lamirande. "With everything, all the unintended obstacles, we had everyone graduate. I think this is the first time we graduated everyone who started. It was great to see everyone finish."
Numbers were down slightly, but they are down at many colleges nationwide, as many students paused their academic careers when learning largely went online during the worst of the pandemic. The director said they had to patch together two Covid classes for the skills session this year, and he expects numbers may stay low next year because of the pandemic and because of the many questions and negative issues surrounding law enforcement. Lamirande said this is an important time for law enforcement and he is happy with the students they are seeing at FDLTCC.
"I'm really encouraged by the students that are coming forward to do this noble profession during difficult times," Lamirande said. "I believe there are tremendous opportunities to earn and maintain the public trust and for this profession to get better. We need to listen to what society is asking for and deliver it."
The former Cloquet police chief said the jobs are out there as departments around the region, state and country struggle to find applicants. "Departments need them; they're screaming for good candidates. It's a tremendous opportunity to make a difference, earn a great salary, great healthcare and benefits and work in a stable profession," he said. "... Society needs to have people fulfill this role."
Friday's ceremony was held on campus with a limited number of audience members and livestreamed on the FDLTCC YouTube channel. The ceremony included speeches from three of this year's graduates - Boyd Billman, Jarvis Paro and Joshua Radosevich - and reflections from FDLTCC graduate Taylor Stutsman.
Lamirande said the next two-year session begins in August. He encouraged anyone considering law enforcement to inquire at FDLTCC soon.
