The sixth annual Durant High School Breakfast for Heroes was bigger than ever on just about all fronts.
Not only was the school’s cafeteria chock full of students and law enforcement officers — mostly from Plant City Police Department and Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, though some even came from as far as St. Petersburg and Moore Haven to attend — but it was also a celebration for the criminal justice program’s largest-ever graduating class. Forty-two Durant students received certificates for completing all four levels of the program throughout their four years of high school and, according to teacher James “Mr. Smitty” Smith, all of them passed the test to receive their Florida Class D security licenses.
This year’s keynote speaker was PCPD’s own Sgt. Al Van Duyne, a 19-year veteran of the department who shared his humor and life experiences with the students. He encouraged them to be “agents of change” as community servants and encouraged them to stay true to their core values and beliefs.
“We didn’t do this for personal gain. We didn’t do it for recognition, awards or money,” Van Duyne said. “We do what we do because it’s our job. We do what we do because it’s the right thing to do.”