On Friday June 26, 2015 at 2:00 pm the Frederick Police Department will host its graduation for the 56th Frederick Police Academy
On Friday June 26. 2015 at 2:00 pm the Frederick Police Department will host its graduation for the 56th Frederick Police Academy. The graduation ceremony will be held in the auditorium of Governor Thomas Johnson High School, which is located at 1501 North Market Street, Frederick, MD 21701.
The 56th Frederick Police Academy began on November 17, 2014 and encompassed 1,224 hours of training in a multitude of topics. The 56th Frederick Police Academy consists of 18 Student Officers from 5 different agencies. 5 officers are from the Frederick Police Department, 9 are from the Frederick County Sheriffs Office, 2 are from the Washington County Sheriffs Office, 2 are from the Carroll County Sheriffs Office and 1 is from the Brunswick Police Department.
The Student Officers are identified as follows:
Deputy Luis Alvarez: 23 years old, Washington County Sheriffs Office. Deputy Alvarez was born in Puerto Rico and raised in Boonsboro, MD. He graduated from Boonsboro High School in 2010 and joined the Air National Guard as a Military Police Airman, where he holds the rank of Senior Airman.
Deputy Gary Biser: 37 years old, Frederick County Sheriffs Office. Deputy Biser grew up in Poolesville and graduated from Walkersville High School. Deputy Biser worked security of the United States Department of Defense at Ft. Detrick and the Washington Navy Yard prior to the Academy.
Deputy Bryan Bittenmaster: 25 years old, Frederick County Sheriffs Office. Deputy Bittenmaster was born in New Jersey and graduated from North Hunterdon High School in 2008. Deputy Bittenmaster worked for Jersey City EMS prior to the start of the Academy.
Officer Thomas Edwards: 24 years old, Frederick Police Department. Officer Edwards is from Frederick and graduated from Tuscarora High School in 2009. Officer Edwards graduated from the University of Maryland in 2013 with a BA in Criminal Justice and worked as a Security Officer for Montgomery College prior to the Academy.
Deputy Justin Eichelberger: 22 years old, Frederick County Sheriffs Office. Deputy Eichelberger graduated from Brunswick High School in 2010. Deputy Eichelberger graduated with an AA in Criminal Justice from Frederick Community College and worked as an armed guard with an armored car service prior to the Academy.
Deputy Samantha Foland: 26 years old, Frederick County Sheriffs Office. Deputy Foland grew up in Myersville and graduated from Middletown High School in 2006. Deputy Foland graduated from Frostburg State University in 2010 with a BA in Political Science and worked as a Contract Analyst on Ft. Detrick prior to the Academy.
Deputy James Harp: 34 years old, Frederick County Sheriffs Office. Deputy Harp was home schooled and graduated in 1999. Prior to the Academy Deputy Harp worked for Creek Bound Farms in Hagerstown.
Officer Derrick Hiester: 23 years old, Frederick Police Department. Officer Hiester was born in Philadelphia, PA and graduated from Red Lion Area High School in 2009. Officer Hiester graduated from Shippensburg University in 2013 with a degree in Criminal Justice and worked security in Hershey, PA prior to the Academy.
Deputy Jacob Jersild: 24 years old, Carroll County Sheriffs Office. Deputy Jersild grew up in Westminster and graduated from Dallastown High School in 2009. Deputy Jersild graduated from Carroll Community College with an AA in General Studies and worked as a custom carpenter prior to the Academy.
Deputy Charles Keyser: 21 years old, Washington County Sheriffs Office. Deputy Keyser grew up in Washington County and graduated from Smithsburg High School in 2012. Deputy Keyser graduated from Hagerstown Community College in 2014 with AA in History. Deputy Keyser serves in the Maryland Army National Guard where he is in the Military Police Corps.
Deputy Katelyn Kumm: 26 years old, Frederick County Sheriffs Office. Deputy Kumm graduated from Winston Churchill High School in 2007. Deputy Kumm graduated from West Liberty University in 2011 with a BS in Business Administration. Prior to the Academy Deputy Kumm worked in the restaurant business as a manager.
Officer Kevin Long: 26 years old, Frederick Police Department. Officer Long grew up in Frederick County and graduated from Walkersville high School in 2006. After High School Officer Long enlisted in the US Army, serving several tours overseas. Officer Long attained the rank of Sergeant and transitioned out of the United States Army in 2014.
Deputy Gregory Piper: 27 years old, Carroll County Sheriffs Office. Deputy Piper grew up in Hampstead, Maryland and graduated from North Carroll High School in 2005. Deputy Piper worked corrections at the Carroll County Detention Center for 7 years prior to the Academy.
Deputy Zachary Sanders: 26 years old, Frederick County Sheriffs Office. Deputy Sanders grew up in Monrovia and graduated from Urbana High School in 2006. Deputy Sanders enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, attaining the rank of Sergeant and was deployed overseas. Deputy Sanders left the United States Marine Corps in 2012 and attained a BA in Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland in 2014.
Officer Brandon Smith: 21 years old, Brunswick Police Department. Officer Brandon Smith was raised in Frederick and graduated from Governor Thomas Johnson High School in 2011. Officer Brandon Smith worked as a Correctional Officer with the Frederick County Sheriffs Office prior to the Academy.
Deputy Chad Smith: 25 years old, Frederick County Sheriffs Office. Deputy Chad Smith was raised in Frederick and graduated from Governor Thomas Johnson School in 2008. Deputy Chad Smith enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2009 and served three tours overseas. Deputy Chad Smith also participates in the Frederick County Youthful Offender program, speaking to youth and helping them make positive life choices.
Officer Ryan Stotler: 26 years old, Frederick Police Department. Officer Stotler grew up in Thurmont and graduated from Catoctin High School in 2006. Officer Stotler enlisted in the Army National Guard in 2010 and also worked as a Correctional Officer with the Frederick County Sheriffs Office prior to the Academy.
Officer Tanzy Weller: 27 years old, Frederick Police Department. Officer Weller graduated from Catoctin High School in 2005 and earned an Associates of Applied Science in Bio-Processing Technology. Officer Weller worked as a Procurement Support Administrator with the Department of Defense prior to the Academy.
During the Graduation Ceremony, the Frederick Police Department will also present various awards. The general public and media are invited to attend.
Officer preparing release: Sgt. Sean Carr-(301) 600-1237
Case Report Number: N/A
NAC; N/A