York Tech's Zeigler a Graduate of Class 531 of Basic Law Enforcement Academy

March 11, 2009

ROCK HILL—Todd Zeigler, 23, who was among the first to graduate from York Technical College with an Associate of Public Service, Criminal Justice Technology major, has graduated as a member of Class 531 from the Basic Law Enforcement Academy in Columbia.

Zeigler graduated in 2008 from York Tech after first having sought to earn his criminal justice degree at another institution further from his Rock Hill home. Upon hearing that York Tech would be offering a criminal justice degree, Zeigler enrolled in the Associate of Public Service program in the fall of 2006.

Zeigler said York Tech offered more personalized service than he had received in the past and that his Criminal Justice instructors had “street experience” in addition to academic qualifications. All full time and adjunct Criminal Justice faculty members at the college are either former or active duty law enforcement officers or have experience in the courtroom as criminal prosecutors or defense attorneys.

As part of his degree requirement, Zeigler completed an internship at the York County Sheriff’s Office, where he was exposed to several areas of responsibility. This valuable experience confirmed his ambition to become a member of the York County Sheriff’s Office.

“I am very excited to have Deputy Ziegler serving with the men and women of the York County Sheriff’s Office," said Sheriff Bruce M. Bryant. "I wholeheartedly support the program from which he graduated because York Tech has involved law enforcement officials from the early planning stages to ensure that this program would offer the things that will benefit candidates the most as police officers. This program offers a strong foundation to students interested in a law enforcement profession. Once a student completes this program, we receive a well-prepared candidate that we can train and develop into a top of the line police officer. I am thrilled to have the first student placed in a law enforcement agency as one of my officers.”

Patricia Hovis, department manager for York Tech’s Criminal Justice Technology program and Zeigler’s advisor, said she feels a sense of accomplishment in watching Zeigler reach his goal of earning an Associate degree from York Tech, graduating from the South Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Academy and completing the extensive hiring process at the Sheriff’s Office.

“He is the first student to graduate from the Criminal Justice degree program to earn a position at the Sheriff’s Office,” Hovis said, “and I think he is representative of the mission of the college to provide training and education to those seeking an opportunity to have a successful career and provide service to the community.”

To graduate from Basic Law Enforcement, students complete nine weeks of training, which entails approximately 400 hours. It includes rigorous physical fitness training, and covers topics such as criminal and traffic law, domestic violence, sexual assault, ethics, firearms, crime scene processing and emergency vehicle operations.