SGTC Law Enforcement Academy Graduate named Montezuma PD’s Officer of the Year

February 15, 2018
Smith is pictured accepting his graduation certificate from SGTC President Dr. John Watford (right) during his 2016 Law Enforcement Academy graduation.
South Georgia Technical College Law Enforcement Academy graduate and Montezuma Police Department Officer Austin Smith (left) was recently named the Montezuma Police Officer of the Year. Smith is pictured accepting his graduation certificate from SGTC President Dr. John Watford (right) during his 2016 Law Enforcement Academy graduation.
Smith (right) is pictured with Montezuma Police Chief Eric Finch (left) at a recent city council meeting. Photo courtesy of the Montezuma Police Department. (Photo courtesy of the Montezuma Police Department)

Smith (right) is pictured with Montezuma Police Chief Eric Finch (left) at a recent city council meeting. Photo courtesy of the Montezuma Police Department.

South Georgia Technical College 2016 Law Enforcement Academy graduate and Montezuma Police Department Officer Austin Smith was recently named the Montezuma Police Officer of the Year for 2017.

During his time in the Law Enforcement Academy, Smith excelled in his academics. As a result, he was awarded the Highest Academic Award for posting the highest academic marks in the 16-02 graduating class and was named a recipient of the Lt. Michael Sangster Law Enforcement Academy Scholarship.

During his graduation speech, Smith quoted legendary football player and coach Vince Lombardi to talk about success.

“The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand,” Smith read, saying the words helped him excel in the SGTC Law Enforcement Academy.

More than a year after his graduation, Smith is still living by those words in his profession, according to Montezuma Police Chief Eric Finch.

“Officer Smith is a very dedicated officer to our mission statement, our department and all the citizens of Montezuma and Macon County,” Finch said about his officer. “[Smith] is always willing to do what it takes to perform his duties to the best of his abilities.”

Smith was hired by the Montezuma Police Department in early 2017 after completing his Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Certification. He is the son of Ferrell and Terrie Smith of Americus.

The South Georgia Technical College Law Enforcement Academy program takes 18 weeks to complete and most recruits qualify for the HOPE Grant and other forms of financial aid. Admission standards require all students to undergo a thorough background check and adhere to all rules as set forth by the state POST Council. Students will also have to meet minimum scores in English, reading and math.

For more information about the Law Enforcement Academy contact the Law Enforcement Academy office at 229.931.2716 or SGTC Law Enforcement Academy Director Brett Murray at 229.931.2756; or SGTC Dean of Academic Affairs Vanessa Wall in Americus at 229.931.2713.