Hattiesburg, Miss. – Twenty-four graduates of the Southern Regional Public Safety Institute celebrated their completion of the law enforcement training program here Friday, a lot smarter and slimmer after completing the academic and physical rigors of the course.

The SRPSI certifies Mississippi law enforcement officers through a nine-week (400 hour) basic academy, as well as to offer in-service or advanced training across the broad spectrum of public safety areas to officers from all over the southern United States. The course is offered four times a year.

The Institute, which moved to Camp Shelby last year after its offices in Long Beach were damaged by Hurricane Katrina, is supported by the University of Southern Mississippi, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office and Camp Shelby.

Clay Jones, director of the Institute and a captain with the Harrison County Sheriff Department’s SWAT team, praised this year’s class for their mental and physical achievements. “The academic average for this class was 93.17, which is outstanding,” he said. “Collectively, they lost 107 pounds and 55 inches in the waist.”

Tammy Anderson of the Gautier Police Department, one of the 24 to complete the program, attested to the program’s intensity and its preparation for her work in law enforcement. “It’s meant a lot to me, and it’s something I won’t ever forget,” she said. “It was mentally and physically challenging. I’m ready to go.”

Jones said despite a shortage of law enforcement officers across the state, the institute is maintaining its high standards of training, which includes basic law enforcement training and advanced training for senior officer and administrators, as well as free training for rural law enforcement agencies. Participants can also qualify for college credit from Southern Miss upon completion of the program.

In addition to Anderson, Friday’s graduates included John Bennett of Gulfport; Lisa Fields of Hattiesburg; Shane Fletcher of Pearl, Van Flynt of Wiggins; Steve Foote of Copiah County; A.J. Gambino of Hancock County; Jordan Hill of Tylertown; Mitch Howell of George County; Donald Ison of Gulfport; Michael Krauss of Gulfport; Kyle Malley of Hancock County; Patrick McRaney of Pearl River County; Lance Miller of Biloxi; William Morris of Gautier, William Newell of Biloxi; Brenton Pitre of Bay St. Louis; Troy Prather of Pearl River County; Ashly Ruiz of Gulfport; Deanna Thompson of Hancock County; Darren Vedros of Gulfport; Leonard White III of Vicksburg; Jeffery Williams of Gautier; and Shawn Williams of Gulfport.

State Auditor Phil Bryant, guest speaker for the event, recounted his own days as a Hinds County Deputy Sheriff and emphasized to the graduates what a key role they would play in making their communities safer. He also praised the Institute’s staff for its work to improve the quality of law enforcement in Mississippi.

“Training is a life saver in law enforcement,” said Bryant, who graduated from Southern Miss with a degree in criminal justice. “And having been in law enforcement myself, I understand the importance of quality training and this Institute is doing a great job of that.”

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About The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi, founded in 1910, is a comprehensive doctoral and research-extensive university fulfilling its mission of being a leading university in engaging and empowering individuals to transform lives and communities.  In a tradition of leadership for student development, Southern Miss is educating a 21st century work force providing intellectual capital, cultural enrichment and innovation to Mississippi and the world.  Southern Miss is located in Hattiesburg, Miss., with an additional campus and teaching and research sites on the Mississippi Gulf Coast; further information is found at www.usm.edu .