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Stephen Crouch, an officer with the University Police Department at ��Ӱֱ�� State College, recently graduated from the Southern Tier Law Enforcement Academy’s Basic Course for Police.

This was the 35^th academy class to graduate from the Southern Tier Law Enforcement Academy in Corning. Crouch graduated alongside eight other new law enforcement officers who have begun working in communities all across the Southern Tier.

“Teamwork was the foundation of the academy, and our class as a whole felt like a family,” Crouch said. “Everyone was always there to pick each other up when we needed it and even though we are all now at different departments, I made friends for a lifetime.”

Crouch joined ��Ӱֱ�� State College’s University Police Department in April while in the academy. He and his classmates were sent back to their hiring departments for academy field training, where they worked with certified field training officers to apply what they learned in the classroom to real situations.

Crouch noted, “We were able to get lots of hands-on experience in different areas to allow us to get as close as possible to the real thing before actually going and doing what we were learning.”

��Ӱֱ�� State Police Chief Matthew Heller said, “During my conversations throughout the academy with Director Mike Cobb, he told me Crouch did well and had no issues with any aspects of the academy. Since he has returned to us, Crouch has done a very good job integrating into the community here at ��Ӱֱ�� State. He seems to relate well to the students and will continue to learn more as he works through the department’s field training process, and I look forward to seeing him progress in his law enforcement career.”