The Washtenaw Community College Police Academy celebrated its latest graduating class on Friday, February 20 at 2|42 Community Church in Ann Arbor.
Recruits in the 35-member class that began their training in the Fall 2025 semester are now employed by 23 different law enforcement agencies around the state of Michigan, including six located in Washtenaw County: the Chelsea Police Department, Northfield Township Police Department, Pittsfield Police Department, University of Michigan Police Department, Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office and the Ypsilanti Police Department.
RELATED: Photo Gallery (coming soon)
In his Class President address, Joseph Sandahl recapped the academy experience for gathered family and friends.
"When we arrived on the first day, we entered as individuals, each with our own backgrounds, motivations, and expectations," he said. "We quickly learned that this academy would demand far more of us than physical endurance or academic performance. It would require discipline, humility, integrity, and a willingness to grow. It would require us to look honestly at our strengths and weaknesses and commit to improving every single day."
WCC President Executive Vice President for Instruction Dr. Brandon Tucker offered words of encouragement to the graduating class before Joyce VanMeter, Senior Director of WCC Public Safety Training, adeptly stepped in as keynote speaker when the scheduled presenter was unable to attend due to a family emergency.
VanMeter provided the following words of wisdom to the graduating recruits:
"Wear your badge with humility. Carry your authority with wisdom. And lead with service," she said. "Act with courage, speak with respect, and never forget that the uniform does not make the officer — the character inside it does.
VanMeter ended her address by reminding the new officers that their oath begins today,
learning continues tomorrow and their legacy starts with their very first call.
Later in the ceremony, VanMeter recapped what the academy graduates had accomplished over the previous 18 weeks of training, which started in October 2025, telling gathered family and friends that each member of the graduating class completed more than 795 hours of classroom and hands-on training, earning 19 credits from WCC in the process.
The curriculum includes:
- 86 hours of firearms classroom and range instruction
- 80 hours of legal instruction
- 67 hours of subject control instruction
- 50 hours of physical fitness training
- 40 hours of emergency vehicle operation training
- 24 hours of first aid training
- 8 hours of health and wellness
- Many additional hours of cultural diversity, unbiased policing, law enforcement active de-escalation strategies, interpersonal communications, and more.
The graduation ceremony included a traditional presentation of certificates and a pinning ceremony, during which recruits received the badge of their new employer — some from their new supervisor, others from family or loved ones.
The graduates also walked a receiving line of active and retired law enforcement officers in attendance, symbolizing a welcome into the profession.
Also part of the ceremony was the presentation of awards (see full list below) to both academy graduates and instructors. Retiring instructor Sergeant Michael Church was chosen to receive the Inspiration Award and Favorite Instructor Award by the recruits. He also received a special award from the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) for his "unwavering commitment" to law enforcement training.
AWARD WINNERS
WCC Police Academy instructors bestowed the following awards upon graduates:
MCOLES Outstanding Recruit Award: Noah Curl, East Lansing Police Department (pictured at right)
High Academic Achievement: Jeffrey Poinier (98.1), Northfield Township Police Department
Subject Control Excellence Award: Bradley McCarty, Lenawee County Sheriff's Office
Emergency Vehicle Operations Excellence Award: LaDaryl Lyte, Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office
Firearms Excellence Award: Johnathon Hubert-McLennan, Novi Police Department
Firearms Instructors Award: Seth Bauman, Blackman-Leoni Department of Public Safety
Physical Fitness Excellence Award: Spencer Mandernack, Meridian Township Police Department
Physical Fitness Dedication Award: Robin Spears, Redford Township Police Department
‘Train Like Troy’ Award: Jordan Holton, University of Michigan Police Department, and Johnathon Hubert-McLennan, Novi Police Department
The WCC Police Academy graduating class returned the favor by voting to present the
following awards:
Inspiration Legacy Award: Retired sergeant Michael Church (pictured at right)
Favorite Instructor: Retired sergeant Michael Church
Most Dedicated Instructor: Retired lieutenant Alan Hunt
Most Influential Instructor: Brighton Police Department sergeant Jim Meldrum
Most Valuable Person: Patrick Downey, Conference Events Director at WCC
MEET THE GRADUATES
The 35-member graduating class will serve communities across Washtenaw County and beyond. They include:
Adrian Police Department: Renee Richter
Blackman-Leoni Department of Public Safety: Seth Bauman, Andrew Blair
Chelsea Police Department: Jared Atkinson
East Lansing Police Department: Noah Curl
Green Oak Township Police Department: John Ulmer
Hillsdale Police Department: Joseph Sandahl
Jackson Police Department: Natalia Delgado
Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office: Bradley McCarty
Meridian Township Police Department: Spencer Mandernack
Milford Police Department: Cierra Buxton
Monroe City Police Department: Logan Waller
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office: Andrew Buchko, Jayden Rogan
Northfield Township Police Department: Jeffrey Poinier
Novi Police Department: Johnathon Hubert-McLennan, Andrew Simon
Pinckney Village Police Department: Zachary Kramer
Pittsfield Township Police Department: Hunter DeBarr
Plymouth Township Police Department: Raymond Oatman
Redford Township Police Department: David Blakley, Robin Spears
University of Michigan Police Department: Victoria Groves, Jordan Holton, Camron Reiffer
Washtenaw Community College Public Safety: Brian Gellasch, Carter Thompson
Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office: Chad Goethe, Kirkland Harshaw, LaDaryl Lyte, Luke Milliken, Ryan Schram
West Bloomfield Township Police Department: Javante Underwood, Mason Walsh
Ypsilanti Police Department: Jeremiah Patmon
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Learn more about the WCC Police Academy and its application process.
Tags: Class of 2026, Graduation, Police Academy, Public Service Training