HUTCHINSON — Nineteen new law enforcement officers graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) on Feb. 25 at a ceremony held in the KLETC Integrity Auditorium.

Deputy David Carrillo of the Seward County Sheriff’s Office was the graduating class president. The speaker for the ceremony was Doug Schroeder, executive director of the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training. Rob McClarty, KLETC senior instructor of police, was the class coordinator for the 289th Basic Training Class.

Deputy Shane Coleman of the Geary County Sheriff’s Office achieved the Director’s Honor Roll and was awarded the Welch Academic Award for academic excellence. Officers Nicholas Martinez of the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office and Christian Rivas of the Great Bend Police Department both were inducted into the KLETC 200 Mile Club. Rivas also received the Fitness Medal for having the best overall improvement in the push-ups, sit-ups and the 1.5-mile run as well as having logged the most miles of the two officers. Martinez was recognized during the ceremony for his firearms proficiency as the class “Top Shot.”

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 the University of Kansas Lifelong & Professional Education.

The graduates, who began their training in November 2021, represented multiple municipal, county, and state law enforcement agencies from across Kansas. 

Local graduates are Christian Rivas and Eric Jones, Great Bend Police Department; and Adam Jones, Russell Police Department.