UCA Police Officers Keith McKay and Michael Jones recently graduated from the Black River Technical College Law Enforcement Training Academy class 2007-A in Pocahontas, Arkansas. Officers McKay and Jones were two of 52 officers who successfully completed the Basic Police Training Course.
McKay, 22, is from Silverdale, Washington, came to UCA as a student in 2005, and joined the UCA Police Department as a work-study student. McKay was hired as a full-time police officer in July 2006. McKay and his wife Allison live in Conway. He is now a junior at UCA pursuing a degree in political science.
Jones, 22, is from Russellville and entered UCA as a student in 2005. Jones was hired as a full-time police officer in October 2006. Jones, now of Conway, is a freshman at UCA pursuing a degree in mass communications.
The 13 week, 587-hour course which began January 15 included instruction in standard police tactics, firearms, legal, educational, technical skills and practical exercises. In each course, emphasis is placed upon the officers achieving excellence in both academic subjects and firearms training. An officer must maintain an academic score of at least 70% on each examination, and consistently fire at least eighty during firearms training exercises to successfully complete all phases of the course.
Officer McKay served as the squad leader for squad C and achieved the distinctions of second place in physical training, third place in academics, second place overall, and set a new academy record of 445 pounds for bench press.
