From the Eagle's Nest

Washington County Community College Newsletter

March 2024

The Golden Hour On Campus February 9, 2024 - Photo B. Farrar

WCCC Criminal Justice & Criminal Justice Conservation Law

Interview answers from Wayde Carter and Mackenzie Hewitt (2nd Year Con. Law student).

Why take the Criminal Justice/Conservation Law Program at WCCC?

Wayde – The Maine State Police is currently down 78 positions, the Warden Service will have 15-20 openings over the next few years including in the Calais, Eastport/Lubec, and Cherryfield districts. A Warden District is usually about 7 towns to cover. The Eastport, Calais, and Baileyville police departments currently all have openings. Machias needs a resource officer; this position requires 3 years of full-time experience along with extensive active shooter training. Job openings are plentiful and new recruits are needed in the field.

WCCC has new state of the art equipment in a FARO Crime Scene Scanner. This system allows for preservation of crime scene evidence with speed and safety. Students in the criminal justice program leave certified to use this equipment. (Wayde is one of two instructors qualified in the State of Maine to teach and certify other officers on the system. Additionally, you can see some of the hands-on interactive training with the videos that students participate in during class time.) WCCC also has a truck for use by students to gain technical driving skills.

Wayde’s answer continued:

The program also has great adjunct professors with real world experience with Jason Fowler who is a homicide detective for the State of Maine, Mary Zidalis who works in Corrections Management, and Mary Jones who has 30 years of experience in juvenile justice.He also emphasized the small class sizes and the ability to provide quality field experiences for students.

Mackenzie – This is a good job for my personality which is straight to the point, and I feel I have good leadership qualities. WCCC is great because of Wayde’s contacts in the field. He was even on the show, Northwoods Law. The program is wonderful because it provides opportunities to get real life experience by riding along with officers and wardens. This can help you get your ”foot in the door” for employment opportunities.

What qualities should a student have to become a police officer?

Wayde: Ethics, Honest, Leadership Abilities/Solid Work Ethic/Compassion/Empathy; they need to be comfortable with conflict, have a keen interest in preserving public safety, a willingness to uphold the laws of the constitution, and a passion to protect and serve.

Mackenzie: A desire to be the voice for victims (wildlife) who have no voice.

Students in the videos are using the

Milo Range Law Enforcement

Use of Force Simulator

Enquiring minds had to check out the

progress on February 9th.

Around

&Off

Campus

Let’s Get Sexuwell Pt. 2

with Victoria Preston from Maine Family Planning

in the TCLE on February 12

Wilderness

First Aid

Class

Students were working on a scenario where the victim had suffered a clean leg fracture

February 10, 2024

Keene’s Lake

Special Thanks go out to Karen Gookin, Remy Courtois,

Brandon Vinal, Wayde Carter, Molly McDonald, Greg Smith, Stephanie Allard,

and the entire WCCC Student Senate.

More photos of this event are available here

Stay tuned for more Outdoor Adventure Center events by visiting the OAC website

Learn outside of the classroom

EXperience

Participation

Learning

Opportunities

Relationships

Engagement

EXPLoRE Leaderboard

Dayton Calder - 800

Nathan Mahan - 795

Jonathan St. Louis - 780

Connor Fenton - 660

Sophea Kelly - 650

Sam Buckley - 600

Nathan Crossley - 600

Our current number of students who have participated in at least 1 EXPLORE event is ---- 208

The percentage of those students who participated in more than 1 EXPLORE event --- 87.5%

Earn points and prizes by checking in at all on-campus student life events using the QR code provided at the event or through the BrightSpace Explore Page. There are opportunities for online only students to earn points too! Look for these opportunities here in the newsletter.

TRiO Day

February 26

Emergency Funding

Application

March

is

Problem

Gambling

Awareness

Month

Recovery Focused Resources and Events

On Campus on Tuesdays!

Washington

County

Recovery

Resources

Watch Jon’s Story

Earn Explore Points!!!

View this video via the

EXPLORE Lounge in

Brightspace and earn 50 points. No check in required. Make sure you are logged into Brightspace before clicking the link. This is a great way for online students to participate and earn points.