Officers request dignity, respect at city, county graduations

Published 1:09 pm Thursday, May 18, 2017

THOMASVILLE — Tradition sets in heavily Friday night and Saturday morning, when Thomasville and Thomas County Central high schools will graduate hundreds of students.

Law enforcement will staff the graduations to ensure dignity and decorum at the long-awaited events.

At 8 p.m. Friday, Thomasville High School will conduct graduation at the high school gymnasium.

Those attending will be asked to remain orderly and to respect graduates and their families, said Maj. Eric Hampton, Thomasville Police Department public information officer.

“No one attending will be allowed to applaud, cheer or have any outburst during the ceremony,” Hampton said.

Signs will remind those attending of behavior expected during commencement.

“(Police) officers posted throughout the gymnasium will ask violators to leave and will escort them from the building,” Hampton said.

Charges against violators are possible, based on the severity of the disturbance.

Said Hampton, “We hope everyone can enjoy the ceremony and be able to hear their graduate’s name. The goal is to ensure the entire ceremony is carried out professionally and with dignity.”

The Thomas County Sheriff’s Office will provide security at 10 a.m. Saturday at Thomas County Central commencement at the school gymnasium.

“Our goal is to get every car parked in an orderly fashion, have a dignified ceremony and safely assist everyone as they leave,” said Capt. Steven Jones, sheriff’s office public information officer. “We ask that everyone treat this ceremony with the dignity and respect it deserves.”

Anyone disrupting the TCCHS graduation will be escorted from the ceremony and will face arrest, according to authorities.

“The sheriff’s office congratulates all graduates and wishes them the very best as they transition to the next phase of life,” Jones said. 

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820