Thursday, December 18, 2025–10:00 a.m.
-News Release-
Friends, family, and the community gathered in the Conference Center at Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s (GNTC) Gordon County Campus in Calhoun on Dec. 16 to honor 16 students graduating from Basic Law Enforcement Training Class #BL11-2025-02.
The Basic Law Enforcement (BLE) program is designed to train and prepare graduates for employment as entry-level Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) certified law enforcement officers.
“Your badge does not define you; your actions do,” said GNTC Campus Police Lt. Kayla Franks, guest speaker, urging the graduates to “remember that protecting the integrity of the badges protects us all.”
“Today you leave here with a badge, authority and responsibility, but also opportunity,” she said. “Your career can be long and fulfilling. Protect your integrity as fiercely as you protect your safety.”
Chase Cole served as the student speaker for the ceremony.
Edwin Newman was presented with the Academic (Honor Graduate) Award for having the highest grade point average; William Locke received the “Top Gun” award for excellence in marksmanship.
Graduates recited their Oath of Honor at the conclusion of the ceremony, vowing “On my honor, I will never betray my badge, my integrity, my character, or the public trust. I will always have the courage to hold myself and others accountable for our actions. I will always uphold the Constitution, my community, and the agency I serve.”
Graduates of Basic Law Enforcement Training Class #BL11-2025-02 are Chase Cole, Blake Delay, Cristian Deleon, Devon Dornan, Robert Edwards, Robert Heck, William Locke, Castulo Molina, Owen Morales, Edwin Newman, Jacob Roberts, David Sarellano, Larry Silvers, Zachary Sugden, Trent Thompson, and James Weesner.
Delay, Molina and Sugden are employed by the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Heck is employed by the Murray County Sheriff’s Office; Roberts is employed by the Walker County Sheriff’s Office.
Cole and Edwards are employed by the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office.
Silvers is employed by the Adairsville Police Department. Locke is employed, and Morales is provisionally employed by the Dalton Police Department.
Deleon, Dornan, Newman, Sarellano, Thompson, and Weesner are preservice.
