Kansas City police academy celebrates oldest new graduate
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — One Kansas City metro police academy has a notable new graduate.
The Blue River Police Academy’s latest graduating class receives its diplomas Tuesday night. One graduate in this group is twice the age of most police cadets, and he’s been pursuing a different mission up until now.
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“Hard work is nothing I’m strange to,” Leon Dixon, 48, said on Tuesday.
Dixon, a native of New York City who’s called Kansas City home for two decades, can’t wait to begin his new role with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. Dixon is said to be the oldest graduate ever to graded this police academy. He’s worked mostly as a church pastor for 14 years, and now, he’ll begin a new life in law enforcement.
“You don’t have to be overbearing with your faith. Just believe you can make a change in your community. That’s what most of us are trying to do. We’re not trying to make it worse than what it is. We’re trying to make it better,” Dixon said.
Dixon and his classmates survived the 18-week training program, and even took a face full of pepper spray the way all police recruits do. Blue River Police Academy is located at Metropolitan Community College in Independence. James Beale, who manages the program, said he believes Dixon’s life experience will make him a valuable officer.
“He is a pastor, and when you see that, it’s calming in itself,” Beale said. “The younger recruits look up to him. He keeps everything in control.”
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Dixon will begin work as a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy this week, riding along with an experienced officer for the first three months.
Dixon is also believed to be the youngest new deputy for Jackson County’s Sheriff’s Department, and he will be for another few months. A spokesperson for that department says another recruit in his 50s is signing up soon.
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