Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center graduates 288th Basic Training Class
HUTCHINSON – Twenty new law enforcement officers graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) on Feb. 4 at a ceremony held in KLETC’s Integrity Auditorium.
Officer Curtis Morse of the Emporia Police Department was the graduating class president. The speaker for the ceremony was Tony Mattivi, retired assistant U.S. Attorney and the antiterrorism and national security coordinator for the District of Kansas. Troy Livingston, KLETC senior instructor of police, was the class coordinator for the 288th Basic Training Class.
Paul Ornelas of the Humboldt Police Department was awarded the Welch Academic Award for academic excellence. Jacob Smith from the Independence Police Department was recognized during the ceremony for his firearms proficiency as the class “Top Shot.”
Graduates earn certificates of course completion from KLETC and receive 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’s 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 October 2021, represent 17 municipal, county, and state law enforcement agencies from across Kansas. Graduates are listed below by county and agency:
Allen
Paul Ornelas, Humboldt Police Department
Butler
Stephen Peltier, Andover Police Department
Khalid Barakeh, Butler County Sheriff’s Office
Jarrett Deen, Butler County Sheriff’s Office
Coffey
Darin Provo, Coffey County Sheriff’s Office
Cowley
Zachary Wilson, Cowley County Sheriff’s Office
Crawford
Nicholas Kosman, Crawford County Sheriff’s Office
Decatur
Edward Temmel, Decatur County Sheriff’s Office
Ford
Eddie Del Real, Dodge City Police Department
Jasiel Anaya, Dodge City Police Department
Gray
Cornelia Near, Gray County Sheriff’s Office
Linn
Jeorgia Scritchfield, Linn County Sheriff’s Office
Lyon
Curtis Morse, Emporia Police Department
Montgomery
Jacob Smith, Independence Police Department
Norton
Austin Hager, Norton County Sheriff’s Office
Pratt
Joseph Daniels, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
Sean Mason, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
Saline
Matthew Snider, Saline County Sheriff’s Office
Shawnee
Abigail Worlein, Washburn University Police
Thomas
Cody Gwinn, Colby Police Department.
Read more about the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center.
Top photo: The 288th basic training class of the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center.
Right photo: KLETC Executive Director Darin Beck stands with the 288th class president Officer Curtis Morse.