Staff Reports

SAVANNAH – Twelve students from the Savannah Technical College Peace Officer Academy celebrated graduation from the program on April 20. These graduates have completed coursework containing the entire Georgia Peace Officer Standards & Training (P.O.S.T.) Basic Law Enforcement Training Course. Their successful completion of the program qualifies them to be state-certified peace officers.

This is the 41st group of students to complete the program since its inception in 2009. To date, the program has graduated more than 400 P.O.S.T.-certified officers. Eleven of these graduates have been hired by area law enforcement agencies – including three who will join the Effingham County Sheriff Department: Jaryd Ram, Manuel Rodriguez, and Christopher Youngblood. As of 2021, STC’s Peace Officer Academy has a 100% placement rate.

Each cohort selects a fallen officer for whom the graduating class will be named. The cohorts have a tradition of giving the family of the fallen officer a challenge coin dedicated to the officer. A challenge coin is a symbol of an unbreakable bond of dedication and allegiance among military personnel and law enforcement officers. The challenge coin tradition started as a military tradition in World War I and was later adopted by law enforcement.

This cohort honors Capt. Ramsey Mannon of Effingham County Sherriff’s Office, who passed away Aug. 12, 2021, from complications from COVID-19. Capt. Mannon was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had served with the Rincon Police Department and Effingham County Sheriff's Office for 38 years in various law enforcement positions. He is survived by his wife, two children, and two grandchildren.

For more information about the Peace Officer Academy visit www.savannahtech.edu/PeaceOfficerAcademy or contact the office at 912-443-5191 or njones@savannahtech.edu. The next cohort begins in May.