Moultrie officers graduate from ABAC police academy

TIFTON -- Rodney E. Estrella and Thomas E. Raynor of the Moultrie Police Department were among 21 individuals from the south Georgia area who recently received certificates at graduation exercises for the 194th Session of the South Georgia Police Academy Basic Mandate Class at Abraham Baldwin College.

Raynor received the Overall Achievement Award for the 194th session as well as the Academic Achievement award. The second place award for academics was tied by James W. Allen of the Camilla Police Department and William E. Mortimer of Hahira, sponsored by South Georgia Police Academy. Efrain Beltran of the Decatur County Sheriff's Office, Bainbridge, received first place honors and Eugene Bell III, of the Valdosta Police Department received the second place award for firearms.

Col. Billy Hancock of the Crisp County Sheriff's Office was the guest speaker at the graduation ceremony.

The South Georgia Police Academy regularly holds multi-week intensive training sessions designed to acquaint officers with state-of-the-art law enforcement techniques. The academy operates in cooperation with the Division of Social Science at ABAC.