Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center graduates 266th Basic Training Class

LAWRENCE — Twenty-five new law enforcement officers graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) on Aug. 7 at a ceremony held in KLETC’s Integrity Auditorium. 

Alexander Riggins of the Hill City Police Department was the graduating class president. James Buettgenbach, KLETC instructor of police and class coordinator for the 266th, was the speaker for the ceremony.

Ray Boese of the Emporia Police Department was awarded the Welch Academic Award of Excellence for his outstanding grades. Brian Pangburn of the Morris County Sheriff's Office was awarded the Top Shot firearms award. 

The new officers were members of the 266th basic training class. The graduates, who began their training in February, represented 21 municipal, county and state law enforcement agencies from across Kansas.

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 more than 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 the University of Kansas Lifelong & Professional Education.

Graduates who granted permission to release their names are listed below by county and agency:

Barber
• Jose Salinas, Barber County Sheriff’s Office

Barton
• Amber Kai, Great Bend Police Department

Butler
• Billy Cole, Butler County Sheriff's Office
• Raquel Dean, Augusta Department of Public Safety
• Antonio Mosqueda, El Dorado Police Department

Cowley
• Lisa Dominique Delgado, Arkansas City Police Department
• Alicia Pack, Arkansas City Police Department
• Michael Yzquierdo, Arkansas City Police Department

Crawford
• James Claeys, Pittsburgh State University Police Department

Dickinson
• Cody Robert Morlan, Herington Police Department

Ford
• Dayton Quint, Dodge City Police Department

Geary
• James Williams, Junction City Police Department
• Marissa Ziegler, Junction City Police Department

Graham
• Alexander Riggins, Hill City Police Department

Jewell
• Colton Koch, Jewell County Sheriff’s Office 

Labette
• Justin Jones, Parsons Police Department

Lyon
• Ray Boese, Emporia Police Department
• Patrick Renfro, Emporia Police Department

McPherson
• Brandon Lawson Archuleta, McPherson County Sheriff's Office

Montgomery
• Dylan Conger, Coffeyville Police Department

Morris
• Brian Pangburn, Morris County Sheriff's Office

Riley
• Jonathan Kunkleman, Kansas State University Police Department

Shawnee
• Virgil Collins, Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office 

Sherman
• Lake Mellott, Sherman County Sheriff’s Office

Sumner
• Autumn Ferris, Caldwell Police Department

Learn more about the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center.

Top photo: Members of the 266th Basic Training Class, observing social distancing, recite the Code of Ethics affirmation in front of KLETC faculty and staff.
Right photo: Class President Alexander Riggins of the Hill City Police Department holds his presidential plaque with KLETC Executive Director Darin Beck.