Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center graduates 353rd Basic Training Class

HUTCHINSON — Twenty recruits from the 353rd Basic Training Class at the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) graduated after completing 14 weeks of intensive training. The new officers will now return to their agencies across Kansas to begin serving their communities.

Police Instructor Senior Bryan Carey introduced the class during the ceremony. Mike Brown, executive director of the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training, addressed the graduates and reflected on his time at the academy and the leadership provided by KLETC staff.

“One thing the most sacred duty of an old cop is to teach young cops how to become old cops — how to truly be part of something bigger than yourself, how to survive this profession not only tactically, but administratively, spiritually and emotionally,” Brown said.

He challenged the graduates to continue developing throughout their careers.

“I challenge every one of you to become lifelong learners and, more importantly, lifelong teachers. Strive to be that old cop teaching young cops how to become old cops,” he said.

Officer Jonathon Slaten of the Emporia Police Department, the class president, also addressed his fellow graduates and their guests, reflecting on the transition from academy training to active duty.

“Starting tomorrow, the training wheels come off,” Slaten said. “Tomorrow, we step into patrol cars. Tomorrow, we will answer real calls. And tomorrow, someone is going to look at us not as recruits, but as the person they are counting on in the worst moments of their life.”

KLETC has been a division of the University of Kansas since 1968 and serves as the state’s central training agency for law enforcement officers.

Under the authority of Darin Beck, vice provost and director of police training, graduates received certificates attesting the satisfactory completion of a full-time basic course of instruction and certification as Kansas law enforcement officers from the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training, the state’s law enforcement licensing authority.

The following are the graduates of the 353rd basic training class. Some trainees also received additional awards, noted in parentheses.

Anderson County
Andrew McAdam, Garnett Police Department (Fitness Award)

Butler County
Matthew Keene, Andover Police Department

Cherokee County
Luke Gunn, Baxter Springs Police Department

Cloud County
Tristan Kearn, Concordia Police Department (Fitness Award)
Dustin Lindley, Cloud County Sheriff's Office

Crawford County
Makinzie Goedeke, Pittsburg Police Department
Alex Wilson, Girard Police Department

Edwards County
Jackson Adler, Edwards County Sheriff's Office

Ellis County
Gehrig Milledge, Hays Police Department

Finney County
Donovin Aldana, Holcomb Police Department

Labette County
Gracie Mann, Chetopa Police Department
Bo Sharp, Chetopa Police Department (Fitness Award)

Leavenworth County
Omar Willingham, Leavenworth Police Department

Lyon County
Jonathon Slaten, Emporia Police Department (Fitness Award, class president)

McPherson County
Ian Bartlett, McPherson Police Department

Osage County
Kevin Lock, Carbondale Police Department

Pratt County
Austyn Staats, Pratt Police Department

Saline County
Molly Hodges, Salina Police Department

Sedgwick County
Paris Moore, Valley Center Police Department

Wilson County
James Williams, Neodesha Police Department.