UWG Celebrates the Third Class of the ALETE Program Share this page
The University of West Georgia, in partnership with the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC), recently celebrated its third cohort of students who completed the remarkable Academic Law Enforcement Training Exchange (ALETE) program.
Twenty-four graduates were honored for their achievements at a special ceremony held in the Townsend Center for Performing Arts. The ALETE program, house in UWG’s University College, is well-renowned for its commitment to training future law enforcement professionals, which includes a multitude of topics such as PIT training, simulations and other exercises related to the field of law enforcement.
Over the 12-week program, students gained integrity and discipline in maintaining their character in situations that require professionalism.
UWG President Dr. Michael Johnson, who served in the United States Marine Corps, was present at the ceremony to display words of encouragement for the cohort.
“This milestone is not the end,” Johnson said. “It’s the beginning of a lifelong commitment to public service – one that I happen to have knowledge of firsthand – and you’ve chosen a high-demand, high-impact field that requires courage, integrity and compassion. Your dedication reflects the values that we hold dear here at the University of West Georgia.”
For this year’s graduating class, members included those of the Carrollton Police Department, Villa Rica Police Department, UWG’s University Police and Douglasville Police Department.
Keynote speaker Villa Rica Police Chief Michael P. Mansour has over 40 years of law enforcement and community service experience in the state of Georgia. During his career, he worked with the Carrollton Police Department for 20 years, during which he was promoted to the rank of captain. During his speech, he advised the fellow graduates to never give up on the people that they are fighting for.
“This community is here to support you, and they want you to succeed,” Mansour said. “Integrity is doing the right thing, no matter who’s watching. If you always do the right thing, you don’t have to worry about somebody having something on you or doing anything to you.”
Class president Cadet Dakota Bernie Shaw shared his acknowledgement of his classmates’ success and the support from the instructors. He also encouraged himself and classmates to serve their communities with the utmost respect and gratitude.
“I task you to serve with honor, integrity and respect benefiting the men and women of our station, to be there in someone’s worst moment, to step forward and others fall back, to be the foundation of which your communities can build,” Shaw told graduates.
For more information about ALETE, visit www.westga.edu/alete/.
photograph by Brian Carmichael