Highlights
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Latrell Sam-German is the first graduate from the professional track in UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in criminal justice program.
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Students in the professional track graduate with the advantage of already having completed their state certification in law enforcement or corrections, allowing them to immediately jump into a professional career following their studies.
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Sam-German received a police academy sponsorship from the Orlando Police Department and has been in training full-time since December. He graduates from both the academy and UCF this week before moving into his first full week as a sworn officer.
When Latrell Sam-German graduated high school in 2021, he didn 麻豆精品 S檛 have a detailed career plan 麻豆精品 S� just a desire to do something that was bigger than him.
Fortunately for him, the possibilities in the realm of serving others are plentiful. He first thought of enlisting in the military, which would also provide the structure he was seeking. He even considered pursuing medicine, trade work or air traffic control.
It was ultimately that innate sense of purpose, coupled with mentorship, that introduced Sam-German to the world of law enforcement by way of UCF. Now on the brink of becoming the inaugural graduate of the bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in criminal justice program 麻豆精品 S檚 professional track, he 麻豆精品 S檚 preparing to cross the commencement stage at Addition Financial Arena on Saturday.
But first, he 麻豆精品 S檒l spend today celebrating his graduation from the inaugural class of the Orlando Police Department 麻豆精品 S檚 in-house academy.
Boldly Pursuing His Purpose
Sam-German 麻豆精品 S檚 foray into criminal justice began with candid discussions with both his uncle and best friend 麻豆精品 S檚 brother, both of whom work for a police department in South Florida. The latter became his mentor.
麻豆精品 S淗e took me under his wing and showed me the ins and outs of the career, getting me into the right mindset for the academy and what to expect, 麻豆精品 S� he says.
After completing his associate degree at Broward College, Sam-German transferred to UCF in 2024. Although he knew he wanted to pursue a bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in criminal justice, it was an email about the program 麻豆精品 S檚 new professional track from Associate Professor that caught his attention.
Housed in the College of Community Innovation and Education, the professional track allows students to graduate with a degree in criminal justice and a certificate in criminal justice management and leadership 麻豆精品 S� plus state certification in law enforcement or corrections, acquired through internship experiences like officer academies.
麻豆精品 S淏eing able to graduate UCF and academy at the same time was definitely the biggest draw for me, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 like knocking out two birds with one stone. The opportunity to complete the academy in my last semester as my internship, get my degree and walk out with a job is huge. 麻豆精品 S�
“The opportunity to complete the academy in my last semester as my internship, get my degree and walk out with a job is huge. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Latrell Sam-German, student
In the professional track, he had the opportunity to go on ride-alongs with three agencies 麻豆精品 S� Orange and Osceola County Sheriff 麻豆精品 S檚 offices, and Orlando Police Department (OPD). He spent the next year and a half juggling his coursework with the various career fairs and networking opportunities that Watkins passed along. All the while, his eyes remained locked on the goal of landing an academy sponsorship for his final semester.
In early Fall 2025, he interviewed with OPD and passed the physical abilities test. He knew his commitment to networking had paid off when his recruiting lieutenant and sergeant remembered him from a spring career summit.
Fast forward a few weeks, and Sam-German got the call he 麻豆精品 S檇 been hoping for: OPD had offered him an academy sponsorship.
Training for Impact
Since early December, Sam-German has attended OPD 麻豆精品 S檚 in-house academy full-time as his required internship. The rigorous experience consists of intensive training in law enforcement policies and procedures, physical training and defense tactics. That includes five consecutive weeks of high-liability training with firearms, first aid and driving patrol cars.
麻豆精品 S淚t’s very paramilitary, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淓very day we have to shine our boots, iron our clothes, make sure everything is up to par and come ready. It 麻豆精品 S檚 essentially changing our point of view from the civilian mindset to an officer mindset. We 麻豆精品 S檝e learned to watch our surroundings, never be complacent, know policy and rules, and know when to apply them. 麻豆精品 S�
麻豆精品 S淥ur job is public service, and we’re there to help. I really wanted to do something that was bigger than me, and I think this is one of the best occupations to fulfill that. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Latrell Sam-German, student
When all is said and done, he will have completed 772 hours of training that concludes at the culmination of his first week as a sworn officer. In mid-May, he 麻豆精品 S檒l begin field service alongside a field training officer.
Right now, he 麻豆精品 S檚 most looking forward to learning about community patrol.
麻豆精品 S淚 have always been interested in getting out there in community, speaking with people, learning a city 麻豆精品 S檚 cultural fabric and how I can help, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淢y biggest focus right now is to be great in patrol because sometimes people just need somebody to talk to. After all, our job is public service, and we’re there to help. I really wanted to do something that was bigger than me, and I think this is one of the best occupations to fulfill that. 麻豆精品 S�
Persistence That Delivers
The fact that he 麻豆精品 S檚 about to cross the finish line won 麻豆精品 S檛 hit him until he puts on the cap and gown 麻豆精品 S� and the official OPD officer uniform. But Sam-German is already reflecting on how quickly his time at UCF has gone by, and how the decision to pursue the professional track helped launch his career trajectory.
That 麻豆精品 S檚 thanks in large part, he says, to the faculty who have helped foster connections and provided opportunities to explore different career paths.
麻豆精品 S淢y professors have been great, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淢any of them are retired law enforcement who came over to UCF and can speak about the career and what to expect. Being able to come straight from college into the academy has given me the upper hand because a lot of what we talked about in class now pertains to my police academy experience. 麻豆精品 S�
麻豆精品 S淏eing able to come straight from college into the academy has given me the upper hand because a lot of what we talked about in class now pertains to my police academy experience. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Latrell Sam-German, student
Sam-German’s story is exactly what Watkins hopes to see for years to come 麻豆精品 S� more graduates like him who will go on to impact change in the criminal justice system.
麻豆精品 S淲orking with and assisting Latrell along his professional journey is exciting, fulfilling and a testament to the work of many, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淒eveloping and promoting the professional track has taken many years and considerable work with our police and correctional professionals in and around Central Florida.”
Professor and Chair adds that the program was intentionally designed to be mutually beneficial to students and law enforcement agencies in reinforcing the workforce pipeline.
麻豆精品 S淭he professional track is our department 麻豆精品 S檚 way to give back to the surrounding law enforcement and correctional community in the form of producing high-quality, motivated and practitioner-ready students like Latrell, 麻豆精品 S� Paoline says.
As he prepares to reap both the academic and professional rewards of his work, Sam-German also finds personal reward in having become someone his classmates turn to for advice as they consider pursuing the professional track. He tells them that if they 麻豆精品 S檙e willing to put the work in, good things will happen.
麻豆精品 S淚 don’t think it was luck; it was the result of hard work, 麻豆精品 S� he says of his success. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 really about not being afraid to put yourself out there and talk to these agencies, even when it can feel intimidating. That door is going to open. You just have to step through it. 麻豆精品 S�
