True to their class motto of “Doing Whatever It Takes (no excuses, no exceptions) to Just Get It Done,” ten cadets earned their official badges during a swearing-in ceremony on December 13, 2024.

These are the latest graduates of the intensive 21-week Arizona Peace Officer Standards for Training (AZPOST) at Northland Pioneer College’s (NPC) Northeastern Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy (NALETA).

Presiding Navajo County Superior Court District IV Judge Michala Ruechel administered the oath of office to the recruits. New Apache County Sheriff Deputy Tomi Moreno (who was also selected to be the class’s leader) and her colleague Daniel Soto were sworn in. Joining them were Holbrook Police Department’s Joseph Boschert and Nicholas Clayton, Round Valley Police Department’s Cole Roosma and John Rippy, along with Navajo County Sheriff’s newest deputy Alan Belknap. Malachi Rodriquez and Brett Larkin of the Coolidge Police Department and Northern Arizona University (NAU) Police Department’s newest officer, Evelyn Gaspar, rounded out the academy graduates.

The ceremony’s guest speaker, Jim Molesa (retired) of the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office, addressed the cadets directly. “Thank you for answering the call for this service,” he said. “This is not a job. It is a service.” He said, “There is a great need for you in our communities. Your primary duty is to uphold the law, to protect our communities, and to foster peace and harmony. Sometimes that is not without the absence of conflict,” he added. “But you need the understanding and compassion that goes along with that.” He continued, “As you embark on your journey, remember that true power lies not in the use of force but in the ability to de-escalate situations, build bridges, and foster trust in the communities that we serve.” Molesa said, “Your uniform is a symbol of authority, but it should also be a beacon of hope. Let’s strive to be the peacemakers in every sense of the word.” He told the new officers, “Let’s be the ones to calm the storm when the bridge divides and to inspire hope. Let’s be the ones who embody spirit, compassion, justice, and understanding.” He said, “May you wear your badge as an emblem of peace. May your actions reflect that divine image, and may your legacy be one of peace, justice, and service to our community.” He concluded, “Thank you for what you are about to do.”

Navajo County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Robert Santos served as NALETA’s fall 2024 class supervisor. Officer Brayden Wiltbank of the Apache County Sheriff’s Office guided the recruits through the academy and co-served as the class supervisor. During the ceremony, Officer Wiltbank presented the Top Firearms Award to John Rippy and the Top Physical Fitness Award to Tomi Moreno. The class’s Top Academic Award went to Brett Larkin. John Rippy also earned the Top Defensive Driving award. The prestigious David Kellywood Top Recruit Award went to Daniel Soto. A special award was also given to Malachi Rodriguez for hitting the most cones during the class’s defensive driving training.

NALETA is a partnership with regional law enforcement agencies that assign sworn officers as instructors under NPC’s Public Safety Education program. Centrally located at the Northeast Arizona Training Center (Jake Flake Emergency Services Institute) in Taylor, NALETA is a fully accredited AzPOST “closed” academy. This means students can only enroll in the police academy under the sponsorship of a local law enforcement agency.

At a minimum, a prospective recruit must be at least 21 years of age by the end of the academy and be able to pass a variety of tests. These include physical agility, firearms, written tests, a background investigation, and a polygraph.

For more information about AzPOST eligibility requirements, visit post.az.gov or contact the police or sheriff’s office where you would like to begin your law enforcement career. Tribal officers, Game and Fish wardens, and agricultural inspectors are also sworn peace officers.

To learn more, contact NPC’s Director of NALETA and Public Safety Education, Chad Kreuger, at (928) 536-6263 or chadley.kreuger@npc.edu or visit NPC’s website, https://www.npc.edu/natc. To view a photo gallery of the 2024-2 completers ceremony, visit https://www.npc.edu/photos.