CLARKESVILLE - After a long career in law enforcement, native Floridian Stephen Hill has accepted the position of Criminal Justice Instructor at North Georgia Technical College.
“We are very fortunate to have Mr. Hill’s breadth of experience in our classrooms,” said Vice President of Academic Affairs Rex Bishop. “Our students will benefit greatly from his perspectives gleaned from interactions on the state, national, and even international levels.”
Hill says he began his education with an Associate degree in criminal justice from Pasco-Hernando Community College in New Port Richey, Florida. “I went for the degree because that was the requirement to be a state trooper,” he explained. “From the time I was a little kid I knew I wanted to be a police officer.”
Hill landed a job as a Florida State Trooper and during his 13-year stint he acquired his pilot license and flew for the highway patrol as well. Many of the cases he worked were led by the US Customs Department, and he later continued his career with that organization.
Along the way, he decided to return for advanced education, in large part because of a challenge by his children. “When I encouraged them to get a 4-year degree, they pointed out that I didn’t have one,” he laughed. “So I told them I would go back and complete it before they did. And I did.”
He completed his bachelor’s and then his master’s degrees, both in criminal justice and both from St. Leo University in St. Leo, Florida.
Retired from Homeland Security, Hill and his wife, Julie, decided to make their favorite vacation spot their new home. “We love the weather and the people here,” he said. “Teaching at the college is different from teaching at the police academy where you have to dodge bullets. Now I only have to worry about deadlines.”
