Class valedictorian James Trymbiski addresses the cadets

CONSOHOCKEN PA – Ten western Montgomery County residents, including one each from Royersford, Collegeville, Schwenksville, Harleysville and Skippack, were among 61 cadets who recently graduated from Montgomery County Community College’s Municipal Police Academy, which operates at the county Public Safety Training Campus, 1175 Conshohocken Rd.

Joining the graduates were Matthew Fogarty of Royersford, Andrea Sovari of Collegeville, Eric Johnson of Schwenksville, James Joniec of Harleysville, and Meghan Donlen of Skippack. Sovari additionally was presented with the Spirit of Distinction Award.

District Justice Paul N. Leo, one of two keynote speakers during the ceremony, called the graduating cadets “the cream of the crop” and offered advice he learned during 28 years with the Upper Dublin Police Department and 12 years as a justice. “There is a minimum of two sides to every story. It’s your job to thoroughly investigate and articulate the facts.”

Also graduating were were Justin Fritz and Kevin Harp, both of Pottstown; Jeffrey Lorish of Douglassville, James Mains of Gilbertsville and Colin Lawlor of New Hanover.

The college operates the Municipal Police Academy in conjunction with the state training commission. Cadets attended the academy either part-time, Monday through Thursday evenings for 42 weeks; or full-time, Monday through Friday for 22 weeks. Its 800-hour curriculum allows successful students to earn up to 15 credit hours toward an associate’s degree in criminal justice.

The academy has trained about 3,400 cadets with a consistent graduation rate of more than 90 percent.

County Commissioner Bruce L. Castor Jr. and county Chief of Detectives Edward Justice also attended the ceremony.