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| Gary Dunlap (right) recently completed his National Park Service - Seasonal Law Enforcement training through the Southwestern Community College - Division of Public Safety Training Center (SCC-PSTC). He’s pictured receiving his course Certificate of Compwletion from Mitch Boudrot, SCC’s Law Enforcement Training Program (LETP) Director. |
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| Graduates of SCC’s National Park Service – Seasonal Law Enforcement Training program include, front row, from left: Phillip Russell Branch, Jacob Ryan Bush, Genell Lee Campbell, Ian Nash Connors, Thomas Brandon Cowling, Ryan Michael Deacy and Kelsi Michael Dobran. Second row: Gary Anthony Dunlap, William Ernest Lawrence, Viotel Ruth Floros, Matthew David Lippy, Stephen Charles Greco, Frank Donald Lee McGaha, Raymond Andrew Grice, Brintton John Noah, Caleb Michael Hayes, Laura Marie Siegert, Jacob William Johnson, Gregory Charles Suellentrop and Kristina M. Kober. |
For nine years, Gary Dunlap was content with working at the Liberty Bell historic site, in his native Philadelphia, as an armed security guard for a private contractor that had been hired by the National Park Service.
One random day, a general conversation with a Park Ranger helped Dunlap realize his life could get even better.
“I was at work on post talking to a ranger, Kevin Guiney, who’d become a good friend,” Dunlap recalled. “He asked if I’d ever thought about law enforcement through the Park Service. I was happy with my job, but this had better pay and benefits. I had seen the Park Rangers and worked with them, and it made me realize I should.”
Dunlap’s friend even recommended a training program: the NPS - Seasonal Law Enforcement Training Program (SLETP) through Southwestern Community College’s Division of Public Safety Training Center in North Carolina. Dunlap did some research, ultimately took a “leap of faith” and enrolled.
Earlier this month, Dunlap was one of 20 Recruits who successfully completed the rigourous training of the 94th NPS-SLET Session. Graduates were honored during their graduation ceremony at the SCC-PSTC on May 1.
This was not Dunlap’s first attempt at completing the demanding training program. He tried a year earlier but came up short during the administration of the final physical efficiency battery (PEB). This time, he succeeded, earning both the recognition and respect of the SCC-PSTC Law Enforcement Training Program (LETP) Director, Mitch Boudrot.
“While no two of our law enforcement training sessions, at either the state or federal level, are delivered in exactly the same way, the standards established within the programs remain consistent,” Boudrot said. “The dynamic that changed within this training session, verses Mr. Dunlap’s prior attempt, was Mr. Dunlap. He was the variable in the equation – through his renewed mental outlook, physical conditioning and determination to succeed. We merely provided him with the venue to ultimately realize his potential and reap the rewards of consistent, positive action. We are extremely honored to serve the training needs of each of the recruits who successfully complete our public safety programs.”
Dunlap was asked to address his classmates at graduation, and he mentioned two key messages that have helped him.
“LIFE stands for Lessons Introduced for Experience,” Dunlap said before closing his speech with a quote from a Marine who said, “If life knocks you down, try to land on your back because if you can look up, you can get up.”
Aside from his physical conditioning, Dunlap identified an additional challenge that was present throughout the demands of his training.
“The hardest part was the mental preparation,” Dunlap said. “Our instructors told us that each segment would take a little bit out of us, so we needed to keep a positive mindset. That’s what we did.”
Compared to other NPS-SLET programs Dunlap researched (the SCC-PSTC is one of seven training centers authorized by the NPS to deliver the SLET Program), SCC’s was on the low-end of the cost spectrum – a factor that initially concerned him.
“My Dad used to tell me not to go with the lowest option because you get what you pay for,” Dunlap said. “You could say this was an exception to that rule.
“When you consider what they offer for you, and when you consider the amount you spend and the facilities they have, this training blows your mind,” Dunlap said. “I wouldn’t have believed they could do as much as they did. I was definitely impressed, and I’d recommend the program there to anyone.”
Dunlap already has a job lined up at Sandy Hook, N.J. – part of the Gateway National Recreation Area.
For more information about programs offered through the SCC-PSTC, visit www.southwesterncc.edu/pstc, or call 828-306-7041.
