The Washtenaw Community College Public Service Training department honored its 16-member Spring Class of 2026 with a graduation ceremony on Friday, May 1.
Family, friends and fellow law enforcement personnel gathered to celebrate the graduates. Washtenaw County Sheriff Alyshia Dyer served as the keynote speaker and WCC Assistant Director of Public Service Training Paul Gomez was the master of ceremonies.
Academy enrollees were previously hired as corrections officers at sheriff’s offices in Washtenaw, Lenawee and Monroe counties. The Michigan Sheriffs' Coordinating & Training Council (MSCTC) requires officers to complete training at an approved academy during the first year of employment.
WCC's Public Service Training Department operates one of 10 approved academies in Michigan.
In his Class President address, graduate Gerald Nightingale noted that the academy doesn’t introduce students to a job, as many academic programs do, but rather helps them to refine their professionalism.
“It gave structure to what we’d already experienced. It sharpened our instincts, reinforced our discipline, and set the standard we are expected to meet every single day,” Nightingale said. “To our instructors—thank you for holding us to a high standard and preparing us for what this career really demands.”
Gomez explained that the graduates satisfactorily completed 160 hours of training to become certified as a Local Corrections Officer, personnel that supervises inmates in county jails. There are 14 training modules and a comprehensive final examination in the academy curriculum.
Nicholas Massengill of the Monroe County Sheriff's Office earned the class's High Academic Award, scoring 98.6%.
Training modules are taught by current and retired police, fire and corrections professionals.
WCC Corrections Academy
Spring Class of 2026
LENAWEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE: James Kirk, Braden McMordie, Reese Nevins
MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE: Michael Brown, Dylan Howard, Kodi Kieler, Nicholas Massengill, Gerald Nightingale, Dean Rice, Austin Rudolph
WASHTENAW COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE: Lauren Bachli, Kali Evans, Andrea Jackson, Andrew Lewis, Dalorien Segar, Hayden Wendt
Tags: Class of 2026, Correctons Academy, Graduation, Public Service Training