Blue Ridge Technical Center Students of Criminal Justice Present Their Projects to be Graded by the Sheriff and Her Deputy

An unassuming building adjacent to Skyline Middle School off Luray Avenue, the Blue Ridge Technical Center is a thriving hub of academic activity and at half past noon on February 27, it became the scene of a special interaction between criminal justice students and Sheriff Crystal Cline and her Chief Deputy Frank Myrtle, as they listened to presentations and graded projects based on serious crimes that have occurred in the United States in the last twenty years. “I am a hard grader!” the sheriff declared before the presentations began. But watching her put students at ease and ask questions, measuring their level of engagement, it was clear that she is not only a hard grader but a fair one.

Sheriff Crystal Cline and her Chief Deputy Frank Myrtle arrive at the Blue Ridge Technical Center to grade projects for a criminal justice class. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh.

This was not the first occasion that Cline has given her time to grade criminal justice projects for students in the Warren County Public Schools system. She approaches it with enthusiasm and the awareness that these young people represent the future. “We need them,” she affirmed to the press. Instructor Timothy Wolfe shares that awareness. His pride in his students was obvious as he gave a tour of his spacious classroom prior to the event. He has created a comfortable environment with everything the students might need, so that school is a home away from home. With a law enforcement history dating back to the 1980’s, Wolfe is more than prepared for his teaching role. As students trickled in, they testified to being both nervous and excited about sharing their projects with the sheriff.

Retired law enforcement officer Timothy Wolfe, now a teacher at the Blue Ridge Technical Center, anticipates the arrival of his criminal justice class with excitement.

Wolfe teaches an introductory level course in criminal justice as well as an advanced one, simplified as CJ1 and CJ2. The projects being graded on the 27 were the product of his CJ2 class. Not a single project board and the presentation that accompanied it reflected anything except a commitment to excellence from at least one of the team members. As one might expect, there were varying levels of engagement on each team, which Cline and Myrtle considered as they scored each project. With several exceptionally engaged students, the presentation developed into a dialogue with the sheriff and deputy, as they, with twenty-four and twenty-eight years of experience, respectively, shared their own knowledge of the cases, such as the case of George Floyd, where Cline explained to the team members the “duty to intervene” policy that developed from an instance in which officers passively watched another officer do something unacceptable.

One of several student teams presents a project board to the sheriff and her deputy.

Stepping to the front of the classroom to present first, second, and third place awards, Cline spoke on behalf of herself and Myrtle to reiterate how excited they were to attend and how pleased they were with the levels of engagement they saw. Every student received a challenge coin from the sheriff’s office, engraved with Cline’s name and proclaiming wisdom, community, service, and openness. That Wolfe’s CJ2 class might be step one for a future officer of the law in Warren County felt like a real possibility. That every student will go home feeling seen and loved is simply a fact.

The sheriff presents an award for first place to the winning team.