UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The day before Penn State’s fall commencement ceremonies, 36 deputy sheriffs from around the state also will be walking across a stage at Penn State to celebrate their hard work.
They will be graduating from the Penn State run Pennsylvania Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff Education and Training Program at 11 a.m. on Dec. 15 in Heritage Hall of the HUB-Robeson Center.
Run by the Penn State Justice and Safety Institute (JASI), the academy trains newly hired sheriffs and deputy sheriffs from all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.
During the 19-week program, trainees received instruction in several law enforcement areas, including Pennsylvania crime codes and civil procedures, cultural diversity, ethics, firearms, first responder/first aid, defensive tactics, courtroom security and physical training.
Deputy Sheriff Tina Antkowiak, from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, said the training provided her with the tools she needed to transition to law enforcement after a career in the fitness industry.
“We have judges teaching us. We have chiefs of police, state police and other highly qualified instructors teaching. Coming from a beginner level, I have advanced so much and learned so much in this academy,” said Antkowiak. “They take you from the beginner level and make you almost an expert in a short period of time. It is excellent-quality training.”
The opportunity to serve her community in law enforcement is a lifelong dream that she decided to pursue when gyms downsized after the pandemic. She started her new career in corrections before applying with the sheriff’s office.
“I said, ‘it is now or never.’ I always wanted to do law enforcement,” Antkowiak said. “I am very proud and happy that I did.”
Class platoon leader Ahmed Alazawee, from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, tried a couple of other careers after serving in the United States Marine Corps. He said the transition to law enforcement has been a better fit with his military background.
“I worked in construction, then I went to work in a dental office. It didn’t feel like I was home. As soon as I went to the sheriff’s office, I felt like I was home. I feel like I went back to my roots,” said Alazawee.
Even with his military background, he said he learned many new things at the academy.
“I found some great things that we have learned here that I didn’t learn in the military, because they are breaking everything down step by step,” Alazawee said.
During the rigorous training, the class grew together, easing the strain of being away from home for class president Brendon Bretz, from the Dauphin County Sheriff’s Office.
“I am married and just had my first kid. He just turned 1 year old, so it has been a little difficult,” Bretz said. “But you come here and you see your second family. That helps. I know that these guys have my back, and I have theirs.”
He said he is excited to graduate from the program and see where the future takes him and his fellow classmates.
“We came in here 19 weeks ago as strangers, and we are leaving bonded together. I see a lot of leadership in these guys and it puts out a lot of pride. I am proud of myself, proud of these guys for their accomplishments and graduating,” Bretz said. “I am excited to see what my department has in store for me and what these guys have in store for them. I am sure we will cross paths again.”
JASI is a program of Penn State Outreach.