By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor

A high school government civics project turned into a budding career for Macomb Police Academy graduate Alexis Perry.

“I went on a few ride alongs in high school as a community service observation and I fell in love with it and knew that I wanted to do it as a career,” Perry said.

The 21-year-old impressed academy superiors with her academy performance so much so that they selected her for the $800 Law Enforcement Education Program (LEEP) Award.

“In high school, for my last six months, I worked in dispatch observing and monitoring the Senior Dispatcher,” Perry said of a work study program through Benzie County Sheriff’s Department. “I was also an Auxiliary Officer in Sault Sainte Marie.”

Not only did she obtain two associate degrees prior to the academy – one in Law Enforcement and the other in Homeland Security – she completed her bachelor’s in Criminal Justice through a joint program between Macomb Community College and Lake Superior State University, where Perry received all of her degrees.

“Without asking about the educational requirements when she applied for the academy, she was already working on her bachelor’s degree,” said Mike Ciaramitaro, Training Director at Macomb Police Academy.

Graduating with a 3.5 GPA, Perry was one of 17 pre-service cadets in a class of 22 who graduated Dec. 11, 2020 during a virtual ceremony due to COVID-19 safety precautions. She was also awarded the Stephen Thomas First Responders Scholarship ($2,000) and the Officer Robert Brown Memorial Award for Academic Excellence ($250).

“She is extremely professional and displays the qualities that will make a difference in the community,” Ciaramitaro said. “She is focused on doing what is right and helping others.”

Perry, who was hired as a full-time Woodhaven Police Officer starting Jan. 18, 2021, was thankful to the Police Officers Labor Council (POLC) for their generosity through the LEEP Award.

“I’m actually hoping to go back to school and get my master’s degree in psychology or sociology so (the LEEP Award) will help me big time,” she said.

Perry said the additional education will enable her build skills and knowledge for future law enforcement positions.