The Best in Blue: Police Academy Prepares Future Law Enforcement Officers – Part 2
Passion for Service Speaks Volumes about the Broward College Connection
To save lives and protect the community, cadets at the Broward College Police Academy are trained to think more like guardians and less like warriors.
“There’s a misconception that all we ever do at the Police Academy is shoot guns,” said Wayne Boulier, associate dean at the Institute of Public Safety which oversees the basic training program at Broward College for future law enforcement officers. “When you look at our curriculum, it’s only one small part of the total package.”
That’s important for everyone to understand, said Boulier, who emphasized that the cadets are willing participants at many student activities on the Broward College campus, which sparks conversations and helps to bridge gaps between the community and police.
“Some students have preconceived notions of who the police are,” said Boulier, a former officer with the Davie Police Department. “But, when these students sit down and talk to the cadets in a campus setting, they realize these future law enforcement officers not only have a tremendous passion to serve the community but are going through college just like them.”
The interaction, combined with the fact that most of law enforcement officers who work in Broward County are products of the police academy speaks volumes to that connection. The loudest noise, came earlier this year when the Police Academy boasted a 96 percent passing rate among the 200 cadets who took the 2018 State Officer Certification Exam. The exemplary pass rate, ranked the College first among the 41 certified programs by the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission to provide basic and advanced training.
“We are part of the Broward College family,” said Boulier. “It speaks to the tradition of excellence we have in our programs college-wide. The staff, the instructors, the advisors want to be here and want to be part of the Broward College fabric.”
Robert Voss had already bought into that mission long ago. As an 18-year-old, he was a member of the 124th Broward Police Academy graduation class and, two years later in 1989, the recipient of an associate degree in criminal justice from then Broward Community College. Following a 30-year tenure with the Sunrise Police Department, his career has come full circle as a full-time IPS faculty member who instructs cadets on vehicle operations and first-aid.
“It all started for me here at Broward College when I earned nine college credits at the police academy,” said Voss, who later added bachelor’s and master’s degrees to his academic resume. “The police academy is higher education. We teach students how to be a better person and to maybe someday save a life.”
Find out more about courses basic and advanced training in Criminal Justice programs at Broward College.
The Best in Blue: Police Academy Prepares Future Law Enforcement Officers – Part 1
Broward College Training Program is Number One in the State
Instructors in “red shirts” scream encouragement as a handful of students grunt and groan while running up, down and around an obstacle course in a corner lot near Building 22 on the Broward College A. Hugh Adams Central campus in Davie.
All that noise is what comes out of physical agility training and what goes into preparing the next generation of law enforcement or, more formally, the 323rd class of cadets at the Broward College Police Academy.
For 22 weeks or 770 hours, the group is trained at Broward College to meet both the mental and physical requirements demanded of a career as police, sheriff or corrections officer in Florida. All recruits enrolled in the basic training are sponsored by a Broward County law enforcement agency.
Upon successful completion of the program, the recruits are eligible to take the Florida Department of Law Enforcement State Officer Certification exam. A passing score on that exam, enables the student, if not already hired, to be eligible to fill one of 300 current employment vacancies at law enforcement agencies across the county.
Linda Wood, dean of the Institute of Public Safety where the Police Academy is housed, said 96 percent of the students who participate in the basic training, pass the examination on their first attempt. That distinction ranks Broward College first among the 41 certified programs by the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission to provide basic and advanced training.
A good deal of the credit goes to advisors like Jillian Casillas and Joseph Mercogliano, who look after the cadets, from academic and physical training to morning formations and uniform inspections. Casillas said that might translate into days, evenings, and weekends on campus to help the cadets with whatever they may need.
“I absolutely love my job,” said Casillas, who represents the Broward Sherriff’s Office. “I love seeing the change in cadets from when they first arrive to when they graduate. They hold their heads up a little higher. Their shoulders are back a little more. That proud moment they have when they get that badge on their chest and the hard work has paid off.”
Mercogliano, who instructs on “high liabilities,” such as defensive tactics or firearms, said even though each class of up to 45 students seems to get younger, the responsibilities of each cadet in society today doesn’t get any easier.
“We’re trying to instill in the cadets the ethics, discipline and best practices they need to be community leaders,”” said Mercogliano, who has spent the past three decades with the Plantation Police Department while serving as an adjunct at Broward College since 2003 and a class instructor at the Police Academy for the past four years. “We are their role models and mentors. And sometimes we are as much their parents when they are away from home. These are young men and women who are just becoming adults, and they have the same personal problems as other students.”
For a majority of the law enforcement officers who work in Broward County and are products of the academy, that means a connection to Broward College where they developed the leadership skills and empathy that shapes both their careers and the future of policing.
You can find your future in Law Enforcement and Public Service at Broward College. Explore training opportunities, degrees and professional development programs at the Institute of Public Safety.
For additional information on becoming a certified officer in Florida, please contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement
William E. Greene 2019 Scholar Heads to Life-changing Adventure in Seville
An aspiring journalist, Samuel Jordan is aware of how important it is to connect with people at all levels, not only professionally but personally as well. He understands how crucial it is, in a world as globalized as this, to learn from all cultures.
“I’ve always been obsessed with history and foreign cultures. It was a dream of mine to have the opportunity to study abroad and immerse myself in a culture quite different from my own, so when I shared this dream with my academic advisor, she connected me with the study abroad resources at Broward College,” explains Samuel.
As the 2019 spring recipient of the William E. Greene (WEG) scholarship, Samuel is now living his dream.
Heading to Seville, Spain
“When you think about history and rich, diverse culture, Spain is one of those countries that come to mind easily. There’s so much to see there that six months are not enough,” says Samuel. “Another great aspect is that being a member of the European Union is easy and cheap to travel to other EU countries. To me, this is the greatest advantage of my time there.”
Samuel will be taking nine credits of Intermediate Spanish, International Business, and International Relations at the International College of Seville. Samuel plans to enhance his study abroad experience by traveling throughout Spain and other European countries.
What is the WEG scholarship?
WEG is one of three scholarships offered by Broward College to cover program costs at one of four international centers (Spain, Perú, Costa Rica and Ecuador.) The scholarship is awarded to a student each fall and spring semester.
The scholarship is available to degree-seeking students at the College. Applicants must be 18 years old or older, have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and have completed at 12 credits at Broward College. In addition to covering tuition costs, it also covers housing and traveling.
“Studying abroad can be expensive, so it’s incredible that there are programs like the WEG that are offered to help students see the world beyond their own country and learn,” says Samuel.
Students who want to apply for WEG must submit an application form, two recommendation letters from Broward College professors, an unofficial college transcript, and two 500-700 essays. The committee is now accepting applications for fall 2019, with the deadline set for Thursday, April 18, 2019, by 4:00 p.m.
Are you interested in studying abroad? Learn more about the programs and destinations offered here.
Learn more about Samuel’s story, watch this .
Mobile App Offers Added Safety Benefits at Your Finger Tips
By the time Isabel leaves the library for a short walk across Broward College’s a. Hugh Adams Central campus to her car in the student parking lot, the sun has long set. Isabel isn’t afraid of the dark, but she does feel extra safe whenever she is walking alone at night.
BC public safety authorities credit that air of confidence to a safety benefit that students can keep in their hip pocket. It’s called the Rave Guardian, a smartphone app that is capable of alerting campus police when students do not do not arrive at their destinations on time.
The mobile app provides students, and faculty and staff as well with a personalized safety network at their fingertips. The added security measure at Broward College comes at a time when threatening issues seem to pop up unexpectedly on campuses across the nation. Just a year ago, those fears were realized when a gunman went on a shooting rampage at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in nearby Parkland, leaving 17 dead.
Jaeson Weber, director of emergency management, said the Rave Guardian is another tool for the campus community to use to stay in touch with safety officials.
“We want everyone to know that when walking late at night or traveling to new areas, they are not alone,” said Weber. “You have a phone that can virtually walk with you and keep you safe, at any time.”
Weber said the app works rather easily. Users select a “guardian” from among their phone contacts. In this case, the Broward College dispatch is chosen from among friends and family. The guardian then follows the user via a GPS tracking system, using a destination-based timer. Once the user has arrived safely to the destination, the timer is turned off, and a notification sent to the guardian. If the user doesn’t arrive on time, safety authorities are immediately aware of a potential incident.
Available in the Apple and Google Play app stores, Rave Guardian also features the ability to add medical information and buttons to call non-emergency services or 911. The police dispatch can also transmit emergency alerts via the app. And users have the option to stay anonymous and choose just how much information they want to provide.
Download the Rave Guardian today. Want to learn more about other safety and security plans at Broward College, check out the Department of Safety, Security and, Emergency Preparedness.
A Matter of Degrees: ‘Pathways’ Guide Students Through Broward College Experience
Getting to class on time and learning new subject matter didn’t faze Joyce a bit when she enrolled at Broward College. After all, she was used to challenges, having worked part-time through high school to help her struggling family make ends meet.
But, finding the right information about financial aid and whether her credits would count toward a degree at a four-year university was a different story. Like many students who are the first in their families to attend college, Joyce didn’t understand the system and didn’t know what would be her best options.
Joyce isn’t lost anymore. That’s because, since 2016, she and other incoming students at Broward College are required to participate in a program called “Career Pathways.” By simplifying their choices, administrators believe more students will move through these clearer ‘pathways to complete degrees or certificate programs or transfer to four-year colleges or universities at a faster pace.
Jeffrey Nasse, interim senior associate vice president for academic affairs, said the ambitious effort guides students from the moment they step on campus through every aspect of the academic experience, from enrollment to graduation and, ultimately, job placement.
“Allowing students to pick and choose from a ‘buffet line’ of disconnected courses, programs, and support services can be a bit overwhelming,” said Nasse. “Without the right kind of guidance, it’s easy for students to make poor decisions and find themselves suddenly academically off-track.”
Instead, Broward College students now select from one of eight “career pathways”:
- Arts, Humanities, Communication, & Design (AHCD)
- Business
- Education
- Health Science
- Industry, Manufacturing, Construction & Transportation (IMC)
- Public Safety
- Science, Technology, Math, & Engineering (STEM)
- Social Behavioral Sciences & Human Services (SBSHS)
Within these pathways are road maps, which cover show all the subjects needed for potential majors, course sequences, and career information including potential earnings. Students who are not sure of a pathway can take a career assessment to help in their decision-making. Each pathway is monitored by faculty and staff advisors who collaborate to keep students from wandering off course.
By ensuring that they are taking the right classes within a pathway, a student who might have spent the past two semesters pursuing a nursing degree -- but has a change of heart at the first sight of blood – can still apply credits earned to a new major within Health Sciences without wasting valuable time, money and financial-aid dollars.
For students who have the financial means, excess credits might not be such a big deal. But, to many students at Broward College who are carrying a full course load while working part-time or commuting one-hour each way by bus to campus, bad advice can be a barrier to graduation, according to Esmerelda Sweeney, associate vice president, student success.
“We’re very passionate about our students,” said Sweeney, who was instrumental in crafting the Pathways program and securing funds from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for Broward College to implement the three-year pilot project. “We want to see them succeed.”
National studies report that fewer than 40 percent of community college students earn a certificate or degree within six years of enrollment. But, thanks to the more structured programming and mandatory academic advisement, completion rates at Broward College are on the rise and at least 10 percent above the national average for comparable institutions of higher education.
“We want students to feel like they are learning and receiving the type of quality education that will translate into career opportunities and a better life,” said Nasse. “Pathways is not a silver bullet, yet. But, we’re getting there.”
Be an active student – Voice your opinion during Real Talk with President Haile
Pizza is served, and students are quickly helping themselves to a slice or two and then hurrying to find a seat in the crowded room as the clock nears 12:30 p.m. Over 100 students are in the activity center of Building 68 at the Judson A. Samuels South Campus. All seats are taken, and there is only some standing room left.
Throughout the room, there is chatter and students are preparing their questions for the highest decision-maker of Broward College.
Since assuming the presidency of Broward College, Gregory Adam Haile, Esq. has made it his priority to listen to the people he serves. Under the motto of Together We Serve, President Haile has hosted discussion sessions with students and faculty to understand more the concerns, opinions, and suggestions of the Broward College family.
As part of this, Real Talk with President Haile came to life. Students have the opportunity to ask their questions in an open forum on the main campuses during the fall and spring semesters.
Real Talk with President Haile got underway on Feb. 6, 2019 and by all accounts it was well-received. Topics ranged from Financial Aid, Veterans Affairs, to English placement tests. Each session will last for one hour and held at the Student Life department of the campus. There is only one criterion - you must be a currently enrolled student to participate.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for us as students to express our thoughts to the President and get immediate answers,” explains Ray Alce, an Information Technology major at the end of the session.
Dayana Gonzalez, an English student, agreed. “This is my first time assisting an event of this type, and I’m happy I did because I was able to listen to President Haile’s vision and ideas for the College,” she said.
Future sessions will be held on Feb. 28 at North Campus, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., and on March 19 at the A. Hugh Adams Central Campus, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
For more information, contact your Student Life department.
What questions will you ask President Haile when you see him on your campus?
Student Publications Win Top Awards at State Competition
If you are a Seahawk, you know there are many reasons to be #BCProud. Many of our student-run clubs and organizations participate in competitions within their respective areas throughout the year, and they never fail to represent the abundant talent of the Broward College student body.
Student publications, The Observer and PANKU, received several accolades at the annual Florida College System Publications Association Awards Banquet, held in Tampa, Florida on January 25, 2019.
The Observer, the student newspaper, received a total of seven awards. They were recognized as follows: first place for a news story, second place for in-depth reporting, second place for sports column, third place for news photo, and third place for both design and website.
“We are very proud to add these awards to our newsroom. Our students dedicate several hours of the week on top of their school work and jobs to publish a bi-weekly newspaper, and recognition like this inspires them to keep up the hard work,” said Jennifer Shapiro, advisor to The Observer.
The Literary & Arts Magazine, PANKU, was honored with five top awards that included best overall poetry, best cover design, best overall photography, best individual photography, and general excellence. The poem “Snowfall on Las Olas” by Zoe “Vincent” Nouel published in Volume 54 was recognized with the distinguished Debra Vazquez Memorial Awards for Excellence in Poetry.
PANKU’s Design editors were recognized for their work on the magazine’s staff pages. Also, seven students received awards in the categories of poetry and art.
“For 54 years, PANKU has served our students and our community. The magazine celebrates creativity, encourages originality, and inspires greatness,” said Vicky Santiesteban, advisor to PANKU. “We are to celebrate these students for their talent, dedication, integrity, and all-around awesomeness.”
Do you have a passion for journalism? Join The Observer and gain professional experience.
Express your love for the arts, by joining PANKU.
Want to study Journalism or Creative Writing? Then check out the programs offered under the Arts, Humanities, Communication and Design Pathway.
Broward College Welcomes David Lawrence Jr., Childhood Education Advocate to Campus for Book Signing
Many South Floridians have heard of David Lawrence Jr., the former publisher of the Miami Herald and tireless advocate for early childhood education. But who knew, as a child, his family sold chickens, and he drove a tractor? Lawrence's experience inspired his life to a “newly energized purposefulness: that every child have a real chance to succeed.”
Lawrence will present these life lessons and reflections on his legendary career to the Broward College community, Thursday, February 14, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at Central Campus 1008/105. The campus-wide event will feature remarks by Broward College President Gregory Adam Haile, and Lawrence will sign copies of his recently published memoir, “A Dedicated Life: Journalism, Justice and a Chance for Every Child.”
For more information on this event visit: https://browardcollegeblog.com/event/4706/
After tenures at the Charlotte Observer and Detroit Free Press, Lawrence served as publisher of the Miami Herald from 1989-1999. As founder and the driving force behind the Children’s Movement of Florida and the Children’s Trust, Lawrence raised millions of dollars as well as awareness and political support for early education, health and services locally and across the state. Lawrence also played a key role in a statewide constitutional amendment calling for pre-K for all 4-year-olds.
This event is free and open to the public. To RSVP visit: https://bit.ly/2DOeRst
Black History Month: Broward College Celebrates the Contributions of African-Americans
Swimming, fishing, boating and relaxing in Broward County was not always a day at the beach. Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park, today a popular destination for all to escape the distractions of city life, was once Broward County’s designated “colored beach.”
That dubious distinction was put out to sea, thanks to Dr. Mizell and Johnson, who organized “wade-in” demonstrations leading to the desegregation of local beaches in the 1950s and 1960s. The combined efforts of the Broward County civil rights leaders were also instrumental in improving road access to the site -- just south of Fort Lauderdale, nestled in between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway in Dania Beach -- and its eventual state park designation.
Dr. Mizell was the second black physician in Fort Lauderdale. He also helped establish Provident Hospital for black residents as well as South Florida’s first NAACP chapter, of which Johnson, a prominent businesswoman, served as president.
Broward College recognizes the courageous efforts of Dr. Mizell and Eula Johnson and enthusiastically heralds the contributions and achievements of other African-Americans as well throughout February, Black History Month. Among the programs and celebrations scheduled at Broward College during Black History Month is an art exhibit, which runs through February in Bailey Hall. The exhibit features an opening reception, Friday, Feb. 8, 6-9 p.m. To see photos from last year’s exhibition .
The opening of Black History Month on North Campus features an interactive drum circle, “The Story of the Drums throughout Black History,” Thursday, Feb. 7, 12:30-1:30 p.m., in Building 46.
For more Black History Month events on the Broward College campuses, go https://browardcollegeblog.com/calendar/.