New Police Officers and Deputy Sheriffs Graduate from Criminal Justice Academy
Fifteen Alexandria police officers and six Alexandria, deputy sheriffs graduated from Session 132 of the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy on Friday, June 26. Sheriff Dana Lawhorne and Police Chief Earl Cook joined command and training staff of both agencies at the graduation ceremony at Dominion High School in Sterling. The new law enforcement officers completed 20 weeks of training including emergency vehicle operations, firearms training, defensive tactics, crash investigation, basic legal training and other important areas, and the deputies completed four additional weeks of training in jail and courthouse procedures. The police officer graduates include Andrew Compton, Daniel Cornell, Thomas Evans, Stephanie Frank, Joel Hughes, Michael Izzi, Marcell Jones, Lisa Kutz, Johnny Larios, Michael Matteson, Michael McGhee, Jr., Kaitlyn Potts, Rachel Shockey, and Joshua Smigielski. The deputy graduates are Patrick Cushing, Lemuel Houston, Jr., James Kennedy, Giovanna Moya, Lindsay Wood and Gerald Wooden. Class president Deputy Lemuel Houston, Jr., addresses the audience during the graduation program. Courtesy of Alexandria Sheriff’s Office.
Alexandria members of Session 132 distinguished themselves with Deputy Lemuel Houston, Jr., being selected as Class President, Officer Stephanie Frank being chosen as Vice-President, and Deputy Patrick Cushing earning top academic honors for the four-week deputy school.
Several Alexandria graduates also have strong family ties to Alexandria law enforcement. Deputy Houston is the son of Alexandria Police Sergeant Lemuel Houston, Sr., Officer Andrew Compton is the son of retired Alexandria Police Lieutenant Jack Compton, Deputy Gerald Wooden is the son of Alexandria Deputy George Wooden, and Deputy James Kennedy is the son of retired Alexandria Police Detective Tom Kennedy and the grandson of retired Alexandria Police Detective Tom Morehead.
The Academy serves 17 participating law enforcement agencies: the Alexandria Police Department, Alexandria Sheriff’s Office, Arlington County Police Department, Arlington County Sheriff’s Office, City of Fairfax Police Department, City of Falls Church Police Department, City of Falls Church Sheriff’s Office, George Mason University Police Department, Leesburg Police Department, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Manassas City Police Department, Manassas Park City Police Department, Middleburg Police Department, Northern Virginia Community College Police, Purcellville Police Department, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Police and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police.
