The Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) celebrated the graduation of its 350th Basic Training Class on December 12, 2023, at Integrity Auditorium in Hutchinson. A total of 20 recruits, including Kasey Starnes from the Great Bend Police Department, completed a rigorous 14-week training program designed to prepare them for service as law enforcement officers throughout Kansas.
During the ceremony, Police Instructor Senior James Buettgenbach introduced the keynote speaker, David “Tyler” Decker, chief of police in Fredonia. Decker addressed the graduates, highlighting their unique backgrounds and shared commitment to serve and protect their communities. “Each of you arrived at the academy with a story,” Decker stated. “Regardless of your path, you all stand here now united by a single shared purpose — the commitment to serve and protect.”
Class President Joshua Gile, also from the Fredonia Police Department, expressed confidence in the future of law enforcement. “Hold your heads high. Be proud of what you’ve achieved, and go show your communities the outstanding officers you are,” Gile urged his fellow graduates. He emphasized the lasting bonds formed during training and the importance of the lessons learned.
KLETC has operated as a division of the University of Kansas since 1968, serving as the state’s central training agency for law enforcement. Under the leadership of Vice Provost and Director of Police Training Darin Beck, the graduates received certificates confirming their completion of the full-time basic course of instruction. They are now certified as law enforcement officers by the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training, the state’s licensing authority.
The graduation marks a significant milestone for the recruits, who will now return to their respective agencies, ready to implement the skills and knowledge gained during their training. As these new officers step into their roles, they carry with them a commitment to uphold the law and serve their communities with integrity and professionalism.
