Special Agent Basic Academy Graduation

Commissioner: Timothy C. Ward

Director of Public Affairs: Joan Heath

GDC Staff Earn Special Agent certification

FORSYTH, Ga. –  On Thursday, June 16, the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) hosted a graduation ceremony recognizing twenty-one GDC staff for completing the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Basic Agent Academy. As the first class solely comprised of GDC staff, these Special Agents (SA) were recognized and swore an oath during the ceremony, to serve and protect Georgians. After completing 456 hours of instruction to include firearms, defensive tactics, crime scene processing, interviews and interrogations, all graduates are now qualified as Special Agents.

"The level of commitment, teamwork, and perseverance these Agents have shown during their training is outstanding," said Commissioner Timothy C. Ward. "They bring a diverse set of skills to our team, and we are confident in their commitment to guarding the front lines as they uphold their oath to protect the public.”

During the awards ceremony earlier in the week, the following Special Agents were recognized:

• SA Edward Allen Gylfe – Academic Award

• SA Travis Sparks - Class President

• SA Hannah Rittweger, SA Barry Whitfield, SA Josh Williams and SA Maria Wilson – Class Team Leaders

• SA Josh Williams - Top Gun Award

• SA Ashley Jay and SA Josh Williams - Fitness Awards

These men and women join the ranks of fellow Special Agents responsible for investigating criminal activities, conducting crime scene searches, assisting in the prosecution of cases, gathering information for the identification of persons and criminal intelligence, apprehending wanted persons, and performing other related law enforcement duties.

About the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC)

The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) has one of the largest prison systems in the U.S. and is responsible for supervising approximately 47,000 state prisoners. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 9,000 employees. For more information on the GDC, call 478-992-5247 or visit http://www.gdc.ga.gov.