Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center graduates 272nd Basic Training Class

YODER — Twenty new law enforcement officers graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) on Jan. 15 at a ceremony held in KLETC’s Integrity Auditorium. 

Henry Griffiths of the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office was the graduating class president. The speaker for the ceremony was Chief Chris Enos from Washburn University. James Buettgenbach, KLETC senior instructor of police, was the class coordinator for the 272nd Basic Training Class.

Griffiths was also recognized for his firearms proficiency as the class’ “Top Shot.” William Carlile from Derby Police Department walked, ran or biked more than 200 miles during his time at KLETC and exceeded the other physical requirements of the 200 Mile Club including push-ups, sit-ups and a timed run. Carlile was honored as a member of the 200 Mile Club, and for his efforts, he received the Fitness Award. 

Graduates receive certificates of course completion from KLETC and Kansas law enforcement certification from the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training, the state’s law enforcement licensing authority. The training course fulfills the state requirement for law enforcement training. Classroom lectures and hands-on applications help train officers to solve the increasingly complex problems they face in the line of duty.

Established by the Kansas Legislature in 1968, KLETC trains the majority of municipal, county and state law enforcement officers in Kansas and oversees the training of the remaining officers at seven authorized and certified academy programs operated by local law enforcement agencies and the Kansas Highway Patrol.

About 300 officers enroll annually in KLETC 14-week basic training programs. KLETC offers continuing education and specialized training to over 10,000 Kansas officers each year. KLETC is located one mile west and one mile south of Yoder, near Hutchinson, and is a division of University of Kansas Lifelong & Professional Education.

The graduates, who began their training in September 2020, represented 17 municipal, county and state law enforcement agencies from across Kansas. Graduates are listed below by county and agency:

Atchison
Tanner Lueckenhoff, Atchison County Sheriff's Office

Greenwood
Blake Fisher, Greenwood County Sheriff's Office

Hamilton
Chase Stallbaumer, Hamilton County Sheriff's Office

Leavenworth
Matthew Scalia, Leavenworth County Sheriff's Office

Linn
Kolton Carbon, Linn County Sheriff's Office

Osborne
Evan Praseuth, Osborne County Sheriff's Office

Pawnee
Alexander Jacobs, Pawnee County Sheriff's Department
Jarret Knieling, Larned Police Department

Phillips
Henry Griffiths, Phillips County Sheriff's Office

Sedgwick
Avery Barnes, Derby Police Department
William Carlile, Derby Police Department
Austin Hart, Valley Center Police Department

Shawnee
Abdou Gaye, Washburn University Police
Kyle Scott, MTAA Police & Fire Department
Diego Soto, MTAA Police & Fire Department
Pierce Spead, MTAA Police & Fire Department

Sherman
Edward Pritchard, Sherman County Sheriff's Office

Sumner
Emileigh Biddle, Sumner County Sheriff's Office

Wabaunsee
Malcolm Gillum, Wabaunsee County Sheriff's Office

Wyandotte
Cory Miiller, University of Kansas Med Center Police Department

Learn more about the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center.

Photo: KLETC Executive Director Darin Beck and Class President Henry Griffiths.