KU News Release

YODER — Robert E. Blecha, director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, congratulated 49 new law enforcement officers during their graduation from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center on Oct. 8.

The 49 new officers were members of the 209th basic training class at the center. Located one mile west and one mile south of Yoder, near Hutchinson, the center is a division of University of Kansas Continuing Education.

The graduates, who began their training June 28, represented 38 municipal, county and state law enforcement agencies from across Kansas.

Graduates receive certificates of course completion 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, the center 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 350 officers enroll annually in the 14-week basic training program. In 2009, the center offered continuing education and specialized training to more than 5,600 Kansas officers. Funding for the training center is generated from court docket fees from municipal and state courts. No funds from the state’s general revenue are used to operate the center.

Graduates who granted permission to release their names are listed below by agency, rank and hometown.

Andover Police Department: Curtis Anderson, officer, Andover

Belle Plaine Police Department: Jared Lyden, patrolman, Belle Plaine

Chapman Police Department: Leo Blasi, officer, Chapman

Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office: Nicholas Hartman, deputy, Columbus; Michelle Haynes, assistant jail administrator and deputy, Columbus

Derby Police Department: Taylor Moore, officer, Derby; Caleb Rue, officer, Derby

Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office: Douglas Schneider, deputy, Abilene

Fort Scott Police Department: Adam Murray, officer, Fort Scott

Galena Police Department: Clark Casey, officer, Galena

Goodland Police Department: Steven Johnson, officer, Goodland

Herington Police Department: Michael Smith, officer, Herington

Holyrood Police Department: Timothy Turner, chief of police, Holyrood

Independence Police Department: Matthew Bryant, officer, Independence

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office: David Schmitt, deputy, Oskaloosa

Kansas Department Wildlife and Parks: Blake Klema, area manager, Manhattan; Andrew Meyer, officer, Pratt

Kansas State University Police Department: Alex Wiltz, officer, Manhattan

Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Office: Brent Ogborn, deputy, Leavenworth

Leavenworth Police Department: Adam Horvatic, officer, Leavenworth; Candice Masenthin, officer, Leavenworth: Michael Oswald, officer, Leavenworth

Liberal Police Department: Jarod Tingley, officer, Liberal

Linn County Sheriff’s Office: Robert Maloney, deputy sheriff, Mound City

Mound City Police Department: Ben Vaughn, chief, Mound City

Neosho County Sheriff’s Office: Thomas Corwin, deputy sheriff, Erie; Tyeler Riggs, deputy sheriff, Erie

Newton Police Department: Justin Jacks, officer, Newton; Keith Lunkenheimer, officer, Newton

Ottawa Police Department: Terry Cloutier, patrol officer, Ottawa

Parker Police Department: Brock Blackstone, officer, Parker

Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office: Derek Slack, deputy and civil process agent, Larned

Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office: Amber Barratti, deputy, Westmoreland

Pratt Police Department: Cameron Quick, patrolman, Pratt

Riley County Police Department: Josh Winkler, patrol officer, Manhattan

Russell County Sheriff’s Office: Eric Lalicker, deputy, Russell

Seneca Police Department: Jordan Weaver, patrolman, Seneca

Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office: Matthew Cohen, deputy, Topeka; Kody Johnson, deputy, Topeka; Tyler Vaughn, deputy sheriff, Topeka

Ulysses Police Department: Craig Hampton, patrolman, Ulysses

Washington County Sheriff’s Office: Allison Villasenor, deputy, Washington

Wellington Police Department: Phillip Metzen, officer, Wellington

Wichita Airport Authority: Curtis Fischer, safety officer, Wichita; Christopher Theis, officer, Wichita

Wichita Airport Public Safety: Travis Britt, officer, Wichita

Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office: Charles Bunnell, deputy, Kansas City