Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Harper Completes Police Academy

Patrolman Christopher S. Harper of the Gurdon Police Department was one of 96 officers who participated in Basic Police Training Class 97-B, at the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy in East Camden recently.

The 12-week, 480-hour course, which began March 31, included instruction in standard police tactics, firearms, legal, educational, technical skills and practical exercises.

In each course, emphasis is placed upon the officers achieveing excellence in both academic subjects and firearms training. An officer must maintain an academic score of at least 70% on each examination, and consistently fire at least 80% during firearms training exercises to sucessfully complete all phases of the course.

Graduation ceremonies were conducted June 20 at 10:00 a.m. at the Southern Arkansas University Technical College gymnasium.

Harper is the son of Barbara Harper and the late Claude Harper of Gurdon. He and his wife, Nancy, have four children, Christopher Jr., Brianna, Earl and Darcy.

Harper graduated from Gurdon High School in 1988.