Contact: Elaine Tricoli
Phone: (336) 373-2421

Thirty Greensboro Police Recruits Graduate from 88th PBIC

GREENSBORO, NC – (July 25, 2008) – Thirty police cadets graduated this morning during a ceremony at Guilford Technical Community College in Jamestown, marking the end of the 88th session of the Greensboro Police Department’s Police Basic Introductory Course (PBIC).

The featured speaker at the ceremony was Rob Lang from the US Attorney’s Office for the Middle District. Other speakers included Police Chief Tim Bellamy, City Manager Mitchell Johnson, and Mayor Yvonne Johnson.

“The cadets who graduated this morning have received 1,100 hours of intensive law enforcement training involving physical, mental, and academic challenges in preparation for assuming their role as officers with the Police Department,” said Assistant Chief Harold Scott, who heads the Patrol Division of the Police Department. “They have met standards that far exceed the 618 hours required for state law enforcement certification. This allows our Police Department to maintain high levels of professional excellence.”

Following graduation, the new officers will be assigned to various field operation divisions and will work with a Police Training Officer for the next 14 weeks.

“For the next few months, these graduates will be in the car with a training coach, being evaluated day-in and day-out,” Scott said. “They have to successfully pass that part of the training in order to become Greensboro Police officers and begin patrolling on their own.”

The Police Department is now preparing for the 89th PBIC, set to begin in August, Scott said. Recruiting for the 89th session has ended, but the GPD is accepting applications for the 90th session, which will begin in March 2009. For application information, call 1-888-GPD-JOBS or visit www.greensboro-nc.gov/police.

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The City of Greensboro works in partnership with the community to build an increased quality of life for all residents by fostering an environment where inclusion, diversity, and trust are valued. As the seventh largest employer in Greensboro, the City has a dedicated professional staff of 2,700 employees who maintain four core values of honesty, integrity, stewardship, and respect. The City of Greensboro is governed by a council-manager form of government where a mayor and eight council members act as the legislative body. For more information, visit www.greensboro-nc.gov.