At the core of NC State’s Criminal Justice program are its educators, experienced officers dedicated to training honest, respectable cadets.
A key example being Commander Brad Copeland. A Hocking College alum, he has been in law enforcement since 1987, beginning as a state park officer at Tar Hollow State Park in Ross County, Ohio. After experiencing some seasonal positions, Copeland secured a full time job at Malabar and Mohican state park from 1990-2005.
“From there, I went on to get a promotion to Alum Creek State Park, and was a district supervisor for Central Ohio. That’s where I finished my career,” Copeland said.
During his time at Alum Creek, he also began working as an officer for the Village of Loudonville, where his career is far from “finished,” he’s still commissioned in Loudonville with 30 years under his belt. Copeland conducts their firearms training and other related training courses, assists the SWAT team, and even holds a spot at the Lexington Police Department.
That, among many other qualifications, puts Copeland in the perfect position to educate students entering NC State’s Criminal Justice program.
“I started at North Central State College in 2000 as an instructor in the police academy and I’ve been there ever since. Sam Wade [the commander I worked for there,] passed away in 2015. When he passed, they asked me to take over as Academy Commander. I didn’t make the decision until 2017,” Copeland said.
“The other commander that was there had resigned, so I started running both academies. In 2020, NC State moved to providing two full time police academies, so I’ve been a little on the busy side, but I’m extremely passionate about what I do.”
When talking about preparing young officers for duty, Copeland speaks gently and practically,
and his teachings intertwine his personal experience and insightful anecdotes, offering assessments of effective actions. He describes himself as a “social butterfly;” enjoying being around people, and helping his students learn and master the skills to do their jobs.
A current officer working for the Ontario Police Department, Shelley Dehart, is a graduate of the program. 27 years old and having grown up in Ontario, Officer Dehart chose to begin her college career at NC State College in 2014. She recalls that it is hard to remember where the passion initially came from, but being in law enforcement was always a career she desired.
She was only 17 at the start of her schooling, and considering most agencies wait until 21 to hire, she figured a route that included the police academy at the end was her best bet. Officer Dehart successfully completed the program with a 4.0 GPA and was awarded the academy’s Top Academic Award.
“Now, I have been in law enforcement for 6 years, and prior to that I was in the correctional setting for about 3 years and I can say I love my job as a police officer and I am grateful for my department,” Officer Dehart said.
She reflects on her time training in the academy as “one for the memory bank,” explaining that the lessons learned in that classroom are ones that will stick with the student for life. Those who enter the program are tested physically, emotionally, and mentally.
“We had the pleasure to be taught by some of the best instructors around. They offer the best training possible to get you as close to real life situations as possible and I would be lying if I said I didn’t leave some of my blood, sweat and tears in that program,” Officer Dehart said.
“Even after graduation, I still offer to come out and be a part of the training by being a roleplayer in live scenarios and seeing it from both sides of the desk.”
What sets NC State apart is its array of instructors drawn from various law enforcement agencies, providing cadets with a holistic perspective on law enforcement practices.
Emphasizing the importance of going beyond the minimum requirements, the academy enriches its curriculum to build a stronger foundation of knowledge and confidence in cadets. An increased emphasis on hands-on learning and understanding of local jurisdictions, graduates are better prepared to navigate the complexities of law enforcement.
To learn more about NC State’s Criminal Justice program, visit their website, and schedule a meeting with an Admission’s Officer.
