Mercyhurst University's Municipal Police Training Academy recognized 17 graduates in their 123rd graduation.

Those graduates include; Gabriel Bleicher, Mitchell Boethcher, Nicholas Brundage, Joseph Eriksen, Kenneth Frye, Jonathan Hosier, Marcus Irwin, Kyle Jankowski, Kyle Krebs, Benjamin Meyer, Evan Schmidt, Erich Schmidt, Erich Semelka, Riley Stoner, Ryan VanTassel. Nevan Vodzak, William Walthall and James Williams.

After six months of both physical and mental testing these cadets were honored for their completion of the academy. They will all look to make an impact on their surrounding communities.

The Mercyhurst program prepares cadets to become police officers, park rangers, municipal authority officers and many other criminal justice related positions.

At the ceremony the cadets were not the only ones being recognized. Deputy Director Ron Gluvna was presented with an American flag that had been waving over the academy for years to honor his retirement.

"You have to be a special person to be able to do it. It's not an easy job to do," Program Director Bill Hale said. "You've got to applaud these people that come through and do it. We've had a lot of classes come through and these kids today, especially in this environment, it's tough to get people to do it."