Dear Editor:

Nineteen reserve officers, from 12 different area departments, including two from a neighboring county, graduated from the Kosciusko County Reserve Academy the evening of May 12. The commencement was in the old courthouse. Three Kosciusko County Community Corrections officers also participated in some of the lessons throughout the course of the academy.

As the academy’s coordinator, I want to express my gratitude to many people who assisted in making this year’s academy a success. I would like to first express appreciation to Sheriff Rocky Goshert and the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department administration for their continued support. I would like to also express gratitude to KCSD Sgt. Travis Shively for his support and for his never-ending dedication that goes into training these officers. Shively has a huge passion for training officers and this is very evident when he is interacting with the students.

Additionally, I owe Missy Mitchell extreme appreciation for her volunteer service toward this academy regarding all of the needed secretarial duties that are ever so important and necessary for the course.

I would like to additionally express gratitude to the following people for their help in training these officers during this four-month academy: KSCD Lt. Don Wiesehan, Sgt. Jon Tyler, Sgt. Kein Gelbaugh, Detective Sgt. Josh Spangle, Lt. Rick Shepherd, Deputies Lou Mediano James Marshall, Chris Rager, Andy Rumfelt, Ben Jacobs, Jon Popenfoose, Ken Allen, Ryan Reed, Dustin Kreft, Nick Wilkins, Travis Mickem, Dave Mitchell and Mike Fowler; Milford Officer Derek Kreider; Jail officers Cpl. Darcy Meade, Sgt. Kory Fields, Kyle Cooper and Drew Shingler; DNR Officer Matt Maher; Superior Court II Judge Torrey Bauer; Prosecutor Dan Hampton; Deputy Prosecutors Brad Voelz, Katy Hampton and Karin McGrath; Matt Buhler, attorney; Kara Shively, probation; Nicole Nabinger, child services; Bourbon Police Officers Carl Amsden and Matt Haskins; County Coroner Tony Ciriello; ISP Offer Ryan McNamara; Warsaw-Wayne Township Fire Chief Mike Wilson; Jody Hand and Heather Zentz, KCSD dispatch; Syracuse Police Officers Jason Veenstra, Cpl. Michael Bumbaugh, and Joe Denton; Winona Lake Police Sgt. Joe Bumgaugh; Manchester Police Officer Isaac Adams; Starke County Sheriff’s Officer Joe Reed; and actors Troy Helser, Danielle Kreft, Jacquie Harkness, Sontasha Mickem and Rhonda Helser.

Lastly, I would like to express appreciation to Kevin Harter, AVI Food Systems, for his generous and many donations to the academy. A sincere gratitude goes to Lakeview Middle School and Seymour Midwest for being loyal partners with this academy for more than a decade. Also, appreciation to Warsaw Airport for opening the runway for the driving portion of training and Warsaw PD for allowing the academy the use of your outdoor shooting range.

KCSD Cpl. James M. Smith