Crestview police academy grads ready to hit the streets — almost

CRESTVIEW — Crestview Police Department salutes the only two graduates from the April 30 Northwest Florida State College Criminal Justice police academy class who were not in their academy uniforms.

Officers Justin Wallen and Mario Werth were provisionally hired by the CPD as they entered the academy several months ago and immediately swapped their light blue cadet shirts and dark trousers for the dark blue uniform of a Crestview Police officer.

Throughout the August 21 to April 30 police academy, Officers Werth and Wallen supported each other by doing everything from carpooling from Crestview to studying together and doing physical training. School met every evening Mondays through Thursdays and all day each Sunday.

In addition to their coursework at the academy, they have also been going through the Police Department’s extensive and vigorous Field Training program. When not at school they were riding on patrol with experienced training officers or working in the police headquarters, learning the functions of the agency’s various departments.

When they take — and pass — the state certification exam and complete field training, two fully trained and certified officers will be ready to hit the streets of the Hub City on their own and protect the residents of Crestview.

Then their work really begins.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview police academy grads ready to hit the streets — almost