POTEAU, Okla. – The Police Officer Training Academy at Kiamichi Tech graduated its fifth class of cadets on Friday, Dec. 5. Kiamichi Tech administration, academy instructors, friends and families celebrated the graduation of six cadets at the Poteau Campus. The graduates of the academy are: 

• Haylee Anderson – Latimer County Sheriff’s Office  
• Garrett Fargo – Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office  
• Trenton Greene – LeFlore County Sheriff’s Office  
• Michael Menard – LeFlore County Detention Center  
• Isaac Prater – Muldrow Police Department  
• Tabetha Prock – Non-Commissioned Officer  
• Court Waters – Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office  
• Haley Wilson – Poteau Police Department 

The commencement ceremony included congratulatory remarks from Michael Culwell, Kiamichi Tech – Poteau/Spiro Campus Director, a keynote address from Officer Floyd of the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police, and a presentation of awards, including the Jarid Taylor - Heart of a Hero award. 

Deputy Jarid Taylor was a Bryan County Sheriff's Deputy who was killed in the line of duty in January of 2020. To honor his legacy, the family created the Jarid Taylor - Heart of A Hero Award. The recipient of this award was voted on by his peers, for the cadet who best represented Jarid's best qualities of bravery, patience, protectiveness, respectfulness, honesty, care and intelligence. 

“Jarid loved his career and was a wonderful member of law enforcement, but an even better person who possessed many positive qualities,” said Taylor Shipp, cousin of Jarid Taylor, as she presented the award alongside Jarid’s family. “It is our hope, as the family of Jarid, that this award will help begin your long, successful and rewarding career in law enforcement. We are proud to present this award to Court Waters with the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office.” 

Other awards presented included: 

• Trenton Greene for Best Overall Academic Performance 
• Michael Menard for Exceptional Performance in Law Enforcement Driver Training 
• Court Waters for Exceptional Performance in Firearms Training 
• Garrett Fargo for Exceptional Performance in Defensive Tactics Training and as the 2025 recipient of the C. Robert Reed Leadership Award 

The C. Robert Reed Leadership Award is given in honor of The Community State Bank’s Chairman of the Board and TCSB’s support of the academy and is given to a cadet for outstanding leadership and positive overall performance displayed throughout the academy. 

“At the inception of this academy, we knew we wanted to bring a quality training program to our region that would play a pivotal role in the workforce development of the law enforcement sector,” said Shannen Hamby, Workforce and Economic Development Coordinator at Kiamichi Tech. “We are proud of the program we have built and are honored to train the next generation of law enforcement officers. This is not a responsibility we take lightly, and our team feels privileged to work alongside some of the most dedicated instructors in the industry." 

The CLEET accredited academy is a four-and-a-half-month program covering all facets of law enforcement education from driver training and firearms safety to defensive tactics and criminal investigations. 

“May your service be guided by integrity and compassion and may your courage shine as a light in times of darkness,” said Jerimy Emmert, Director of the Police Officer Academy, at the close of the ceremony. “May the Lord bless your steps, keep you safe, and use you as instruments of justice and peace. Go forward with faith and confidence, knowing that your work matters and your purpose is great. Today, you begin not just a career, but a calling. May you fulfill it with excellence and grace.” 

For more information about the Police Officer Training Academy and future classes, contact Shannen Hamby with the Workforce and Economic Development Center at 918-647-4525 or email shamby@ktc.edu.