SCC’s NPS law enforcement program graduates 17
Pledging their utmost dedication and respect to this nation’s natural resources, 17 graduates from Southwestern Community College’s National Park Service Park Ranger Law Enforcement Academy program walked across the stage on Friday, Dec. 6, at the Public Safety Training Center in Macon County.
Graduating class 103 includes siblings, members of the military, a retired engineer and a former police chief. Although they come from different walks of life, the graduates are connected by their passion, work ethic and leadership abilities.
The program — which requires more than 700 hours of training, including being pepper sprayed, tasered and physically restrained — is extremely rigorous and thorough in preparing students for real-world experiences.
“It’s changed me for the better,” said Ronald Reese, a 73-year-old native of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, who completed the program after retiring from a career as a metallurgical engineer. “I’ve found a new appreciation for this field. The instructors are phenomenal. Their passion, talent and experience are incredible, and they are the reason this academy is as strong as it is.”
Robert Cooper joined the program after serving as the Chief of Police for Kure Beach in New Hanover County for 20 years.
“I’ve had a rewarding career in law enforcement, but I wanted to do something different,” said Cooper. “I’ve always been interested in the outdoors, hiking and fishing, so when my friend who lives in Sylva told me about the program, I thought it might be the perfect fit for me.”
Others in the program have always known that they wanted a career with the Park Service.
Rachel Hellwig, who grew up in Atlanta, remembers spending childhood summers with her father at a cabin in Canada, always fishing and enjoying the outdoors. She graduated from Georgia Southern University with a degree in wildlife recreation and began gathering work experience at National Park Service units.
“I joined the Academy because I also wanted to learn the law enforcement side of the field, and this is a really great program,” Hellwig said.
The next NPS-PRLEA program will run from Jan. 6 to May 4 at SCC’s Public Safety Training Center in Macon County.
For more information on the program, contact Don Coleman at 828.306.7055 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
