Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center graduates 300th Basic Training Class

Wed, 10/26/2022

300th Basic Training Class at KLETC.

HUTCHINSON — Twenty new law enforcement officers graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) on Oct. 21 at a ceremony held in the KLETC Integrity Auditorium.

This graduation ceremony marked the 300th class to graduate from KLETC since it was created in 1968.

“Every class is special, but this class is special numerically because it is our 300th basic training class,” said Darin Beck, KLETC executive director.  Beck, who has served in that role since June 2018, shared a little bit of KLETC history with the graduates.

“In 1968 the Legislature created KLETC by statute,” he said. “They recognized that there was a need to formalize training in the state, and the first basic training class was held Feb. 26, 1968, to March 15, 1968.”

From left, Office Nicholas Yeagar, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt and KLETC Executive Director Darin Beck.The commencement speaker for the ceremony, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, said it was special to be back for the 300th, and he expressed his appreciation for the graduates. “Their decision to enter this profession, this line of work — to serve despite the perils, to serve despite the criticism — is admirable.”

Under the authority of Beck, graduates received certificates attesting to the satisfactory completion of a full-time basic course of instruction and certification as Kansas law enforcement officers from the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training, the state’s law enforcement licensing authority.

The graduates, who began their training in July 2022, represented multiple municipal, county and state law enforcement agencies from across Kansas. Graduates are listed below by county and agency:

*Award recipient

Allen County

  • Tyrone Grant-Wooden, Humboldt Police Department

Barton County

  • Angela Enriquez, Barton County Sheriff’s Office

Butler County

  • Hunter Crouch, Andover Police Department

Crawford County

  • Joshua Hammons, Pittsburg Police Department

Ellis County

  • Alexander Baker, Hays Police Department*

Honors

Finney County

  • Shaun Hale, Holcomb Police Department

Franklin County

  • James Nelson, Wellsville Police Department

Hamilton County

  • Alex Ledezma, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office*

Fitness

Harper County

  • Bailey Luck, Anthony Police Department

Harvey County

  • Wyatt Blasi, Newton Police Department

Labette County

  • Mark Raney, Parsons Police Department

Logan County

  • John Wojtech, Oakley Police Department*

Fitness

McPherson County

  • De Anna Jo Balencia, McPherson Police Department

Osborne County

  • Jerry Cameron, Osborne Police Department

Sedgwick County

  • Mackenzie Balthazor, Wichita State University Police Department
  • Scott Kitzenberger, Haysville Police Department

Shawnee County

  • Zachary Bower, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
  • Layne Watkins, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks*

Director’s award for academic excellence; honors

  • Nicholas Yeager, Kansas Department of Corrections*

Class President; honors

Thomas County

  • Cody Collins, Thomas County Sheriff’s Office

Learn more about the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center.

Top photo: Members of the 200th Basic Training Class.

Photo: From left, Officer Nicholas Yeager, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt and KLETC Executive Director Darin Beck.

Wed, 10/26/2022

 

Media Contacts

Erinn Barcomb-Peterson

KU News Service

785-864-8858