Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center graduates 282nd Basic Training Class

HUTCHINSON – Twenty-two new law enforcement officers graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) on Aug. 20 at a ceremony held in KLETC’s Integrity Auditorium. 

Deputy Matthew Cook of the Morris County Sheriff’s Office was the graduating class president. The speaker for the ceremony was Jay Simecka, sheriff for Morris County. Troy Livingston, KLETC senior instructor of police, was the class coordinator for the 282nd Basic Training Class.

Officer Nohl Vogel from the Elwood Police Department was recognized during the ceremony for his firearms proficiency as the class “Top Shot.”

Officers Melissa Pereda Castaneda from the Junction City Police Department and Andrew Orocio from the Augusta Department of Public Safety walked, ran or biked more than 200 miles during their time at KLETC and exceeded other physical requirements including push-ups, sit-ups and a timed run to become members of KLETC’s 200 Mile Club. Orocio was furthered honored with KLETC’s Fitness Award.

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 May 2021, represented 20 municipal, county, and state law enforcement agencies from across Kansas. Graduates are listed below by county and agency:

Butler

Andrew Orocio, Augusta Department of Public Safety

Coffey

Richard Messerly, Burlington Police Department

Doniphan

Nohl Vogel, Elwood Police Department

Geary

Melissa Pereda Castaneda, Junction City Police Department

Luis Rios, Junction City Police Department
 

Grant

Akil Love, Ulysses Police Department

Leavenworth

Tony Reese, Lansing Police Department

Michael Garrison, Leavenworth Police Department

Linn

Brandon Lewis, Linn County Sheriff’s Office

McPherson

Charlie McFall, McPherson Police Department

Miami

John Hamamy, Louisburg Police Department

Morris

Matthew Cook, Morris County Sheriff’s Office

Rice

William Dunn, Rice County Sheriff’s Office

Russell

Matthew Luder, Russell Police Department

Sedgwick

Hailey Fulton, Wichita State University Police Department

Shawnee

Jared Nicol, MTAA Police & Fire Department

Thomas

Jeremy Gwinn, Colby Police Department

Wilson

Richard Kimzey, Wilson County Sheriff’s Office

Woodson

Martin Schomaker, Woodson County Sheriff’s Office

Wyandotte

Marcus Cole, KU Medical Center Police Department

Devin Garden, KU Medical Center Police Department

Miguel Prieto, Edwardsville Police Department.

Top photo: The 282nd Basic Training Class recites the Law Enforcement Oath of Office during the graduation ceremony on Aug. 20.

Right photo: KLETC Executive Director Darin Beck and class president Matthew Cook.