HCC Criminal Justice Students Win National Awards

Members of HCCs Pi Gamma Epsilon chapter of the American Criminal Justice Association have just returned from the organizations 75th National Conference, last week in Cincinnati. The theme of the conference was "Officer Survival: Staying Safe on the Street".

The students from HCC competed in five (5) academic competitions; firearms completion, crime scene processing and investigations. Students across the United States convened in Cincinnati for competitions within three divisions; college lower and upper classmen including graduate students, and field professionals. The physical agility category was divided by gender and age; under 25; 26 to 38; and 39 and over. Ms. Latoyer Brewer of HCC took 3rd place in womens physical agility in the 26 to 38 age category.

Of the competitive events at the national conference, the Crime Scene Processing is the most vigorous, no doubt aided by the influence of popular television series such as CSI, Body of Proof, NCIS and Castle. This is the area the students most want to win. Over 100 teams participated in the crime scene processing competition. The team of HCC students John Suiter, Ryan Langhi and Clayton Olive took second place, lower division in the US, successfully competing against in-state rival Eastern Kentucky University and other four year programs.

HCC, for the first time since beginning to attend these conferences brought home TWO (2) trophies. Greg Bridgeman, program coordinator of the HCCs Criminal Justice Program stated, These wins put Hopkinsville Community College and our program on the national map with national bragging rights!