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Mix of recruits becomes one 'family'
The academy: through three very different students' eyes
BY ELLEN BILTZ
Date published: 5/15/2008
BY ELLEN BILTZ
When James "Chick" Wells retired 15 years ago from the Washington Metropolitan Police, he thought he was finished with law enforcement.
But tomorrow, he'll mark one of the biggest moments of his career when he becomes a police officer--again.
Wells is one of 28 men and women who make up the 100th graduating class of the Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy.
The class ranges in age from a 21-year-old to the 60-year-old Wells.
As the oldest student, Wells said he's amazed at the amount he has learned from the instructors and his fellow students, many of whom are 30 years younger.
He also said a lot of things have changed since his days as a young officer in the District of Columbia.
"The spirit of the young guys, the education level, the modern technology," he said, listing differences he sees since he went through D.C.'s academy in 1973.
"When I first started, we didn't even have an electronic typewriter," he added with a laugh.
Wells will work as a road deputy in Colonial Beach after graduation. He's the only student in the class from that town--most are from Spotsylvania, Stafford or one of the other counties in the Rappahannock area.
But that satisfies him just fine.
Wells has been living and working in Colonial Beach since his first retirement from law enforcement, but he said he realized one day that "60 is the new 40" and wanted to get back into police work.
Because he will be working as an officer in Virginia for the first time, he has to go through a state-approved academy, but said the re-training has been a good thing for him.
"I often forget how old I am," he said. "I just wanted to do it again."
Many of the students who go through the academy have some military experience, including Wells. But it's different now.
"We were Vietnam vets," he said. "Now you see Iraq vets."
THE NEW GENERATION
Rocco Wahl has done two tours in Iraq as a Marine Corps sniper. But after getting back from the Middle East, he wasn't eager for just any job.
"After serving overseas, I wanted the structure," he said.
The 27-year old New York native was hired by the Culpeper County Sheriff's Office, and is now completing his required academy training.
ABOUT THE SERIES| Second in a three-part series on the Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy.
TODAY: A look at the academy through the eyes of three very different students.
YESTERDAY: Trainees learn the skills needed to become a successful law-enforcement officer.
TOMORROW: Ed Evers, retiring after 30 years as director since it first began, talks about changes he's seen in the academy.
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Date published: 5/15/2008
Most recent reader comments:
CONGRATS LE100
(posted by
OBXbound
, May 15, 2008 12:05 pm)
Congratulations to the hard-working men and women that make up this amazing class. You have worked so hard over the last 18 weeks, and have grown into OUTSTANDING law enforcement officers!! I wish you the best with your careers, and pray that you remain safe. Remember your number one goal: to go home! Good luck 100!!
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