Alaska training academy graduates 24 officers after 17-week program

The Alaska Law Enforcement Training Academy graduated 24 officers Wednesday from a 17-week basic training program in Sitka.

The ALET 24-01 class included recruits bound for the Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Alaska State Parks, and municipal police departments in Ketchikan, Juneau, Fairbanks, and Homer. The officers completed more than 1,000 hours of training across more than 70 subjects, including firearms, defensive tactics, emergency vehicle operations, and control tactics.

Academy Commandant Grant Miller said the program is paramilitary in nature and emphasizes decision making, academics, physical fitness, and mastery of law enforcement equipment. The class achieved a 90.93% overall grade point average. Physical fitness scores rose from 76% on the first day to 93.6% at the final test.

"Seventeen weeks ago, these students arrived at the Department of Public Safety Training Academy as strangers to each other, with only a vague idea of what lay ahead," Miller said during the ceremony.

Alaska Wildlife Trooper Michael Whittlebury received the firearms proficiency award. Officer Cole Conley of the Ketchikan Police Department received the driving proficiency award. The physical fitness award went to a trooper who averaged over 98% across three fitness tests. Trooper Michael Reber of the Alaska State Troopers received the valedictorian award with a 96.09% final grade point average.

The honor graduate award, chosen by the class and confirmed by academy staff, was presented to a recruit Miller described as leading "by quiet example" and consistently displaying "the highest standards that we as law enforcement officers set for ourselves."

Deputy Commissioner Brian Barrow, who marked 25 years in Alaska public safety this year, told graduates to "strive for excellence every day" and remain students of their profession. "We are not here involved in public safety to train, train hard, to commit ourselves, to continue to go out, do the best we can every day" for personal recognition, he said, but to serve the public.

Commissioner James Cockrell reminded graduates they will be viewed as law enforcement officers at all times, on and off duty. "When you raise your hand, you are promising to hold yourself to the privilege of the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution" of Alaska, he said.

Graduates included Trooper Wesley Booth, Officer Luke Berkhalter of Ketchikan Police Department, Officer Cole Conley of Ketchikan Police Department, Ranger Lana Davenport of Alaska State Parks, Officer Jeffrey Davis of Juneau Police Department, Ranger Ella Fitzwater of Alaska State Parks, Officer Caleb Harvey of Homer Police Department, and Officer Nathan Jackson of Fairbanks Police Department. Trooper Joseph Besley of the Alaska State Troopers was unable to attend the ceremony.