Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center Graduates 271st Basic Training Class

Twenty-nine new law enforcement officers graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center on December 11th.
271st Graduating Class taking oath

By: Jason Levy

Twenty-nine new law enforcement officers graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) on December 11th at a ceremony held in KLETC’s Integrity Auditorium. 

Kathryn Russell, an officer of the Andover Police Department, was the graduating class president. The speaker for the ceremony was Cole Presley, Graham County Sheriff and President of the Kansas Sheriffs’ Association. Rob McClarty, KLETC Senior Instructor of Police, was the Class Coordinator for the 271st Basic Training Class.

Officer Rachel Grisham from the Salina Police Department was the recipient of both the Director’s Honor Roll and the Welch Academic Award. 

Officer Tristan LaRocque from Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, & Tourism was recognized for his firearms proficiency as the class’ “Top Shot”. Officer Antione Powell from Leavenworth Police Department walked, ran, or biked more than 215 miles during his time at KLETC and exceeded the other physical requirements of the 200 Mile Club including push-ups, sit-ups, and a timed 1.5 mile run. Officer Powell was honored as a member of the 200 Mile Club and for his efforts, he received the Fitness Award. 

Class President Katie Russell and Sheriff Cole Presley.

Class President Katie Russell and Sheriff Cole Presley.

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 University of Kansas Lifelong & Professional Education.

The graduates, who began their training in August 2020, represented 20 municipal, county and state law enforcement agencies from across Kansas. Graduates who granted permission to release their names are listed below by county and agency:

Barber

  • Rachel Ehler - Barber County Sheriff’s Office

Butler

  • Kathryn Russell - Andover Police Department
  • Stephen Evans - Butler County Sheriff’s Office

Cheyenne

  • Jeffery Meyer - Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office
  • Parker Wells - Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office

Cloud

  • Rahjames Robinson - Concordia Police Department

Decatur

  • Leonard Lovely - Decatur County Sheriff’s Office

Finney

  • Adam Bresson - Garden City Police Department
  • Zachary Orr - Garden City Police Department

Jefferson

  • Ella Weishaar - Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office

Leavenworth

  • Antione Powell - Leavenworth Police Department
  • Matthew Weis - Leavenworth Police Department

Linn

  • Brett Jenkins - Linn Valley Police Department

McPherson

  • Blane Janssen - McPherson Police Department

Montgomery 

  • Parker Yell - Coffeyville Police Department

Ness

  • Dalton Bauer - Ness County Sheriff’s Office

Pratt

  • Tristan LaRocque - Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, & Tourism
  • Christopher Orton - Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, & Tourism
  • Trenton Smith - Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, & Tourism

Reno

  • Logan Corley - Hutchinson Police Department
  • Benjamin Smalling - Hutchinson Police Department
  • Trevor Stoll - Hutchinson Police Department

Saline

  • Ashly Gellinger - Salina Police Department
  • Rachel Grisham - Salina Police Department

Sedgwick

  • Roy Brandon - Wichita State University Police Department

Sumner

  • Matthew Tincher - Oxford Police Department
  • Brett Thomas - Sumner County Sheriff's Office
  • Andrea Wagoner - Sumner County Sheriff's Office

Wilson

  • Gavin Williams - Wilson County Sheriff’s Office