Police: 16 Recruits Graduated Wednesday

• The following is a press release from the Prince William County Police Department. It is unedited. 

The Prince William County Criminal Justice Academy Basic Law Enforcement 29th Session graduated on Wednesday, July 13, 2011, at 11 a.m. at Stonewall Jackson High School, 8820 Rixlew Lane in the Manassas area. This class was comprised of 14 Prince William County Police officers, one Prince William County Department of Fire & Rescue, Fire Marshal’s Office lieutenant, and one U.S. Marine Corps military police officer.

The 16 men and women completed a 24-week course of training in all aspects of police work, including classes in firearms, use-of-force decision making, driver training, legal training, patrol techniques, criminal investigation and crash investigation. The graduating law enforcement personnel are listed below, and brief biographies of each graduate follow:

Prince William County Police

Juan P. Antelo is a graduate of Centro Educativo Australiano in Bolivia. Additionally, he was vice president of the 29th Session Basic Recruit Class. Officer Antelo is assigned to work patrol in eastern Prince William County.

Jason D. Bedisky is a graduate of Albright College in Pennsylvania, where he earned a bachelor’s degree. He served in the U.S. Army and achieved the rank of staff sergeant prior to joining Prince William County Police. Officer Bedisky is assigned to work patrol in western Prince William County.

Trevin A. Frame is a graduate of Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Officer Frame is assigned to work patrol in western Prince William County.

Chad A. Gourlay attends Northern Virginia Community College. Officer Gourlay is assigned to work patrol in eastern Prince William County.

Cory J. Hickman is a graduate of Radford University in Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Officer Hickman is assigned to work patrol in western Prince William County.

Brian A. McCleese is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Officer McCleese is assigned to work patrol in western Prince William County.

Robert H.D. Morton attended Iowa Western Community College. Additionally, he was president of the 29th Session Basic Recruit Class. Officer Morton is assigned to work patrol in eastern Prince William County.

Matthew A. Negard is a graduate of Old Dominion University in Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. His father-in-law is in law enforcement. Officer Negard is assigned to work patrol in western Prince William County.

Matthew L. Newton is a graduate of Germanna Community College in Virginia with an associate’s degree in police science. His father is in law enforcement. Officer Newton is assigned to work patrol in eastern Prince William County.

Tyler J. Reza is attending Germanna Community College in Virginia. Officer Reza is assigned to work patrol in eastern Prince William County.

Hillary D. Szalach is a graduate of Bluefield College in Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in English. Her husband is in law enforcement. Officer H. Szalach is assigned to work patrol in eastern Prince William County.

Rebecca L. Vincent is a graduate of James Madison University in Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in history. Officer Vincent is assigned to work patrol in western Prince William County.

Patrick E. Weithers, Jr., is a graduate of California State University at Los Angeles with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Officer Weithers is assigned to work patrol in eastern Prince William County.

Justin E. Workman attends Northern Virginia Community College. Officer Workman is assigned to work patrol in western Prince William County.

Prince William County Fire & Rescue

Lieutenant Robert E. Howard is a graduate of Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and achieved the rank of captain prior to joining the Prince William County Department of Fire & Rescue. Lieutenant Howard is assigned to the Fire Marshal’s Office.

United States Marine Corps

Sergeant James F. Smith, Jr., is a graduate of Darlington High School in South Carolina. Sergeant Smith is a military police officer assigned to the Provost Marshal’s Office, Marine Corps Base Quantico.