RADFORD – Three Radford University police officers graduated from the New River Criminal Justice Training Academy on Friday, June 12, in Draper, Va.

RU officers Whitney Gray, Jason Hayes and Tina Hutchinson graduated from the academy’s 21-week Basic Entry Level Law Enforcement (BELLE) program and were certified as sworn police officers at the ceremony.

The BELLE program includes training in basic law, communications skills, patrol skills, basic investigations, professionalism, defensive tactics, firearms and defensive driving. Each candidate must successfully pass a test to earn certification by the Commonwealth of Virginia as a police officer.

Hayes earned the academy’s “Director’s Award” for overall performance in the program and also won the “Best Overall Physical Fitness” award, while Hutchinson was honored with an award for “Most Improved Physical Fitness.”

“I am very proud of each of these officers. Successful completion of the academy is a professional and personal milestone for each officer,” said Radford University Chief of Police Colleen Roberts. “The academy demands personal commitment and sacrifice and challenges each cadet to develop intellectually, physically and emotionally.”

Gray, Hayes and Hutchinson now join the RU Police Department, which includes 22 sworn police officers and is accredited by the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission (VLEPSC.)

IN THE PHOTO: Officers Tina L. Hutchinson, Whitney L. Gray and Jason G. Hayes of the Radford University Police Department.