14 new cadets ready to join law enforcement in southwest Colorado – The Durango Herald

Durango Police Chief Addresses Police Scrutiny During Commencement Speech

Fourteen police and sheriff's office students are expected to join law enforcement after graduating from the Southwest Regional Law Enforcement Academy Sunday afternoon.

The opening ceremony was held at River Bend Ranch, just north of Durango.

Cadets will assume roles in law enforcement agencies throughout southwest Colorado after meeting the requirements to enter the field.

“Graduation day is always a special day for all of us,” said academy director Doug Parker.

Parker said the academy had seen “these young people 20 weeks ago” come together around a common goal, adding that graduates are now about to take “the next big step towards what I believe is the “The most honorable profession in the world, that of law enforcement.”

As the new cadets were recognized for their accomplishments by Parker and their peers, there was laughter and even tears of happiness.

Durango Police Chief Brice Current was the opening speaker for the event.

He spoke about the role of a police officer and how recent political environments have made it even more important for police officers to fulfill their duty with honor.

“I would argue that the scrutiny comes not from a vacuum, but from a slow drip where the police have failed to change. After 25 years of law enforcement, I realized the spark came from outdated training focused on a negative approach to the Constitution, focused on what we can and cannot do instead of what we should do,” he told a crowd of about 150 people. regarding the intense scrutiny law enforcement has faced in recent years.

Current said a police officer's role should be to “protect people from harm.”

During the ceremony, Eddie and Betty Box performed a Native American blessing for their niece and nephew, Selena Lucero and Phillip Le, who graduated from the academy on Sunday. Eddie Box is a retired police captain with the Southern Ute Police Department.

Lucero will serve as a cadet for the Southern Ute Police Department, while Le will work for the Bayfield Police Department. Le was also named one of the cadet supervisors for this year's class.

“We are the thin blue line that separates order from chaos. And we fulfill this responsibility with honor and integrity. In the face of adversity, we will not alter the presence of danger and we will not back down,” Le said of his career as a police officer.

Another cadet supervisor, Ben Knobloch, said his journey through the academy was exciting and unforgettable. He recognized the specific skills of each of his peers.

“Together we face the challenges of the academy, support each other in difficult times and celebrate our victories. Each of us has contributed to this journey in a way that has enriched our collective experience,” he said.

Knobloch will become an officer with the Durango Police Department.

The fourteen officers graduating Sunday were sponsored by local agencies, something Le noted the class should be proud of.

Cadet Cpl. Kyler Rogers, who will serve with the Montezuma County Sheriff's Office, said the trip “was not without its challenges” and pushed the cadets beyond their limits.

“We were faced with real-world scenarios that required quick thinking and the ability to act decisively,” he said.

Here is the full list of Sunday's graduates:

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