Kansas Law Enforcement Leadership Training Academy announces 4th Command School graduates

LAWRENCE – The University of Kansas Public Management Center, in partnership with the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center, graduated 21 sworn law enforcement officers from its Command School Friday at the KLETC in Yoder.  

The graduates, who began their coursework in January, represented officers from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Kansas Highway Patrol, local police and sheriff’s departments and tribal police from across the state. 

“These officers demonstrated a commitment to public service by participating in the 300-hour, 11-month course. They graduated as better commanders, better supervisors, better community ambassadors and all-around better leaders having gone through the course. They truly are the gold standard in law enforcement in Kansas”, said Dave Brown, principal instructor of the academy. 

The officers will also receive their Certified Public Management credentials from the course at a graduation ceremony Dec. 1 at the State Capitol in Topeka. The CPM program is a nationally accredited management program and certification in which participants develop and strengthen their management skills through a competency-based curriculum. 

LELA is a collaborative partnership between the University of Kansas Public Management Center and the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center. It was established in 2013 to support law enforcement agencies with professional development, leadership training, continuing education and networking opportunities. The Command School program was developed to prepare law enforcement staff for senior and executive-level administrative leadership roles. The academy also offers a Supervisor School, and a new two-day overview course for departments to gain an insight into what the longer programs have to offer. 

The list of this year’s graduates:

• Jimmie Atkinson, Kansas Highway Patrol Training Academy Troop 1
• Hobert Capps, Park City Police Department
• Terry Clark, Prairie Band Potawatomi Tribal Police
• Casey Cooper, Lawrence Police Department
• Justin Cordry, Washington County Sheriff’s Office
• Jennifer Cross, Topeka Police Department
• Andrew Dean, Kansas Highway Patrol Capitol Police Troop K
• Tyler Fast, Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Office
• Jerad Goertzen, Dodge City Police Department
• Jerry Harrison, Independence Kansas Police Department
• Doug Hermreck, Edwardsville Police Department
• David Hutchings, Kansas Bureau of Investigation
• Brad Jager, Riley County Police Department
• Kenton Lewis, Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office
• Shawn McHaley, Reno County Sheriff’s Office
• Raymond Nuñez, Kansas City Kansas Police Department
• Amy Rhoads, Lawrence Police Department
• John Sturgeon, Topeka Police Department
• John Taylor, Hutchinson Police Department
• Jason Thompson, Newton Police Department
• Myron Ward, Prairie Village Police Department.