The Western Nevada State Peace Officer Academy at Western Nevada College honored 19 students Tuesday, preparing them for careers in law enforcement and other criminal justice fields.
Graduating cadets represent seven cities in Northern Nevada.
They completed a 30-credit program that includes 756 hours of Category I training, Academy Coordinator Katie Durbin said. In addition to the academic requirements, cadets must pass a series of fitness and agility tests, including a vertical jump of at least 16 inches, 32 sit-ups in one minute, 30 push-ups in one minute, a 30-meter run in 65 seconds or better, a 1.5 mile run/walk in 15:30 or better, and the Illinois Agility Run.
WNC Criminal Justice Professor Richard Finn welcomed the graduates, and academy instructor Joe Sanford offered the keynote address.
Cadets earning individual honors include: Christopher John Ballesteros, valedictorian; Christian Daniel Deriso, salutatorian; Brian Kirk Green, Top Gun EVOC; Mitchell Shane Hammond, Top Gun; Jesus Lopez-Torres, Bob and Penny Waters scholarship recipient; Christopher Michael Lotz, marksmanship; and Kyle Christopher Powell, top gun EVOC.
Two students, Christopher Lotz and Savannah Gray, are already employed as reserves by the Carson City Sheriff’s Office and the Storey County Sheriff’s Office, respectively.
Class graduates are: Carson City: Christopher John Ballesteros, Ian Eric Carl, Elan Reese Flores, Kyle Christopher Powell, Shane Everett Roberts, Wade Nicholas Wolford; Fallon: Sam David Ugalde; Gardnerville: Savannah Dawn Cecilia Gray, Joshua Mahlon Teter; Minden: Christopher Michael Lotz; Reno: Brian Kirk Green, Mitchell Shane Hammond, Jesus Lopez-Torres; Sparks: Jordan Montgomery Chmelovsky, Christian Daniel Deriso, Michel Scott Hall, Jesus Marquez Ramos, Jessica Erin Zamora; and Washoe Valley: Erik Bartel Wilhelm.
