Fourth Annual Florida Historically Black Colleges & Universities Enforcement Career Opportunity Symposium and Luncheon Seeks to Develop Next Generation of Law Enforcement Leaders

President Chrite pictured with Florida law enforcement agencies and special guests

Bethune-Cookman University hosted almost 100 law enforcement professionals from across the state of Florida, as well as Texas and Ohio during the fourth Annual Florida Historically Black Colleges & Universities (FL HBCUs) Law Enforcement Career Opportunity Symposium and Luncheon on Friday, November 15, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. More than 350 B-CU students, as well as a group of visiting students from Edward Waters College (Jacksonville) and Florida Memorial University (Miami), were in attendance in participation with law enforcement agencies from across the state of Florida.

Chief Robert Hardwick and Officer Mikayla Preston of the St. Augustine Beach Police Department provided an engaging presentation on why and how a career in the law enforcement profession can be personally rewarding and have a positive impact on communities of color.  

Sheriff Sadie Darnell (Alachua County), the first female sheriff for the County served as the Law Enforcement Leadership Luncheon speaker. “Sheriff Darnell's career path and journey as a law enforcement professional really resonated with female students,” said Randy Nelson, Ph.D., Criminal Justice Administration Graduate Program Director. Several of them expressed a new found interest in considering a career in law enforcement. “Given the national climate relative to police community relations, the need to attract the best and brightest to the law enforcement profession is more critical now than ever before and Bethune-Cookman University students and faculty deems it an honor and a privilege to lead the way,” he added.