Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center Graduates 332nd Basic Training Class

Another graduation at the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) means more officers are ready to begin their careers with their respective departments across Kansas. Friends and family gathered on Friday, October 25th, to watch the commencement of the 332nd Basic Training Class at KLETC.

KLETC Police Instructor Senior James Buettgenbach, the class coordinator, introduced the graduates. He was followed by KLETC Associate Director Heather Buller, who introduced the day’s speaker, Kansas State Treasurer Steven Johnson. Johnson spoke about the importance of education and how this moment marked the beginning of the graduates’ educational journey.

"As mentioned, education is lifelong; the world continues to change, and to thrive, we must change with it,” he said. Johnson continued, “after my formal education, I earned my pilot’s license. I wish I’d done it sooner, because that experience actually taught me how to study. Until then, my goal had been to pass or get an ‘A.’ But with flying, I didn’t know what I could afford not to know. I learned to study as if my life depended on it. The benefit was learning to study for mastery, not just understanding. In life-and-death situations, mastery matters.”

Class President Shane Wagers of the Geary County Sheriff’s Office also spoke at the commencement. He reflected on the importance of relationships and their impact on each officer’s career.

"Relationships, both within and outside of our communities, affect every aspect of our work and shape how we guard the law enforcement profession. Steward the profession well. Always be a student of and for your community. We did not choose each other here, and you will not choose your coworkers at your agencies. But we connected here as a unit, and we can achieve that anywhere.”

Under the authority of Vice Provost and Director of Police Training Darin Beck, graduates received certificates attesting 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 following are the graduates of the 332nd Basic Training Class:

*Award recipient

Bret Anderson - McPherson Police Department

Trace Buckle - Arma Police Department

Kaitlyn Chapman - Overland Park Police Department

John Clayton-Hyer - Independence Police Department

Austin Coble-Masters - Douglas County Sheriff's Office

Ashley Collins - Franklin County Sheriff's Office              

Cynthia Cooney -  Mulvane Police Department  

Macky Cottongim - Shawnee County Sheriff's Office
*Fitness

Andrew Fisher - Medicine Lodge Police Department

Tristan Fletcher - Pittsburg Police Department

Conner Foster - Douglas County Sheriff's Office              

David Gass - Liberal Police Department

Joseph Geiger - Overland Park Police Department
*Director’s Award for Academic Excellence

Kaelan Martinez - Liberal Police Department

James Mocek - Colby Police Department
*Director’s Award for Academic Excellence, Honors

Evan Moffitt - Montgomery County Sheriff's Office

William Niffen - Pittsburg State University Police Department

Paul Pacholski - Geary County Sheriff's Office

Dalton Pearson - Meade County Sheriff's Office

Misty Rice - Sherman County Sheriff's Office
*Fitness

Dayton Rindt - Ottawa County Sheriff's Office

Shane Wagers - Geary County Sheriff's Office
*Class President, Fitness

Chloe Walker - Butler County Sheriff's Office

Brianna Ware - Crawford County Sheriff's Office

Orlan Wasson - Emporia Police Department