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Bryce Helms — from Appalachian police cadet to full-time APD officer

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Bryce Helms, a senior criminal justice major and full-time Appalachian police officer, takes a pause from her duties for a photo in the university’s Plemmons Student Union. Photo by Marie Freeman

“Being able to graduate college with a degree and a Basic Law Enforcement Training certification is quite an honor and accomplishment. It is a journey that led me to my career, and one I will never forget.”

Bryce Helms, senior criminal justice major and full-time Appalachian police officer

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Officer Bryce Helms, a senior criminal justice major, is the first ADPD cadet to be offered a position as a full-time police officer with the Appalachian State University Police Department. Photo by Marie Freeman

By Emily Bausch
Posted Feb. 19, 2019 at 3:56 p.m.

BOONE, N.C. — As the Appalachian State University Police Department (APD) prepares to welcome new cadets to its Appalachian Police Officer Development Program (APDP) — now in its second year — Officer Bryce Helms is looking back on how far she has come since graduating from the program’s Appalachian Police Academy in August 2018.

Helms, a senior criminal justice major from Monroe with a minor in psychology, is the first APDP cadet and graduate of the 2018 police academy to achieve full-time employment as a police officer.

While working as a part-time officer in the APDP, she applied for and was offered a position as a full-time officer with APD. She began training for the role in early January and is partnered with a field training officer who evaluates her progress.

“Helms has been doing great work with us as a part-time officer, and she really set herself apart as a strong candidate for a full-time position,” said Capt. K.C. Mitchell, director of the APDP. “This is a great achievement.”

She credits her new position to her hard work, desire to serve others and dedication to taking full advantage of the training and experiences available to cadets in the APDP.

The most valuable experience she has taken away from the program, Helms said, is the training. “Being a police officer, the job is different every day. Training is very important and valuable to police work,” she said. “Training helps you fine-tune your skills and prepare for the least expected.”

Helms said the APDP’s benefits are many: The program has fulfilled the internship requirement for her major; allowed her to obtain Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) certification; and covered the expenses for her participation in the police academy.

Additionally, she said she has “met some amazing people and learned some amazing things” through Appalachian’s APDP. “It is a journey that led me to my career, and one I will never forget,” she added.

View larger image

Officer Bryce Helms, a senior criminal justice major, is the first ADPD cadet to be offered a position as a full-time police officer with the Appalachian State University Police Department. Photo by Marie Freeman

After a successful first year of training students and helping them to explore policing as a career, Andy Stephenson, Appalachian’s director of public safety and chief of police, said APDP applications are already coming in for the 2019–20 academic year. The program is open to all full-time students, regardless of their major or degree program, and costs nothing to students beyond regular tuition.

If accepted to the program, students have the opportunity to attend the next police academy this summer on Appalachian’s main campus, in which they can earn their BLET certificate. Upon successfully graduating from the academy and earning their BLET certification, students work in paid, part-time positions as sworn officers around campus.

“Being able to graduate college with a degree and a Basic Law Enforcement Training certification is quite an honor and accomplishment. It is a journey that led me to my career, and one I will never forget.”

Bryce Helms, senior criminal justice major and full-time Appalachian police officer

“As the future boots on the ground, Appalachian’s cadets can graduate with the tools they need to shape both their careers in policing and the future of these public services in the state of North Carolina,” Stephenson said.

“The one thing I would like to share with a student thinking about applying is, ‘It is totally worth it!’” Helms said. “Being able to graduate college with a degree and a Basic Law Enforcement Training certification is quite an honor and accomplishment … don’t be scared to step out on a limb to join the program.”

For more information about the program and how to apply, click here.

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FYI: Appalachian Police Officer Development Program
FYI: Appalachian Police Officer Development Program
Appalachian Magazine
Jan. 24, 2019

Interested in a career in law enforcement? Find out how App State students are getting real-world experience as police officers before they graduate in the latest FYI podcast.

Listen to the podcast
New Police Officer Development Program to train the ‘policing leaders of tomorrow’ at Appalachian
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The Appalachian Police Officer Development Program — the second of its kind in the nation — begins training student police cadets in summer 2018.

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First class graduates from Appalachian Police Academy
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Sep. 5, 2018

Twenty-one Appalachian students became members of the Appalachian Police Department and certified North Carolina police officers as part of the Appalachian Police Officer Development Program.

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With App State Police, Madison Cook follows in family footsteps of service
With App State Police, Madison Cook follows in family footsteps of service
Dec. 12, 2018

The junior criminal justice-international studies major is a member of the first class of Appalachian’s two-year Police Officer Development Program, which was created to equip Appalachian students with the knowledge, skills and training to become law enforcement officers.

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About the App State Police Department

Appalachian State University’s official policing agency — the App State Police Department — supports the university’s academic mission by working in partnership with the campus community to prevent crime, solve problems and improve the quality of life on campus. The department’s philosophy is one of proactive community engagement, collaboration and customer service, holding the safety and health of App State’s community members as its top priorities. State-certified police officers, security officers and civilian employees compose the department, and this team of professionals helps to create and maintain an inclusive sense of belonging for all members of the App State Community — students, faculty, staff and visitors. Additionally, through its efforts, the department aims to be a leader in innovative public safety ideas and strategies. Learn more at https://police.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

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Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian

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Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
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