UAFS police officer completes training academy

Jeremy Smith of Lavaca, a member of the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Police Department, recently completed a 12-week basic police training course at the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy in East Camden, Ark.

Smith, who has been employed at UAFS since April, is one of eight sworn police officers in the department, according to Kevin Thiele, director and chief.

The instruction included standard police tactics, firearms, and legal, educational and technical skills, as well as practical exercises. Officers strive for excellence in academics, firearms, and physical fitness. Smith completed the training with an A average and ranked 22 out 52 officers graduating this month.

Smith said he appreciates having been afforded the opportunity to attend the police academy, and he now looks forward to applying his training in serving others and making a difference in the community.

According to Chief Thiele, Officer Smith is goal-oriented and has now achieved the first of many goals.

"Jeremy has wanted to be a police officer since he was a boy," said Thiele. "His father, who recently passed away, was a former Oklahoma police chief. At graduation, I told Jeremy I was very proud of him, but I know his father is far more proud of him than I could ever be."