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. Local graduate is Amber Kai, Great Bend Police Department.

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.