POST Class #346 Graduation

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Protecting Utah

POST Class #346 Graduation

Monday December 23, 2019

Class motto was “Kia Kaha!” a Maori phrase meaning “Stay Strong!”

Graduating officers stand at attention and salute the flag, which is at the front of the stage area.

On Thursday, December 19th, DPS’ Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Law Enforcement Academy held graduation exercises for Law Enforcement Officer Session #346.

Officers stand at attention while one officer straightens out the American flag.

Thirty-eight new officers and deputies graduated and will join 23 different law enforcement agencies throughout the state. The agencies receiving new law enforcement officers from session #346 are as follows:

American Fork Police Department
Bountiful City Police Department
Emery County Sheriff’s Office
Grand County Sheriff’s Office
Iron County Sheriff’s Office
Kane County Sheriff’s Office
Layton City Police Department
Moab City Police Department
North Salt Lake Police Department
Ogden Police Department
Orem City Police Department
Roy Police Department
Sandy Police Department
St. George Police Department
Summit County Sheriff’s Office
South Salt Lake Police Department
Utah County Sheriff’s Office
Utah Department of Corrections
Utah State Parks and Recreation
University of Utah Police Department
Wayne County Sheriff’s Office
West Jordan Police Department
West Valley City Police Department

North Salt Lake Police Department Craig Black delivers the key note address - stands at the podium.

North Salt Lake Police Department Chief Craig Black delivered the keynote address at the ceremony.

Chief Black took the questions from the standard line of inquiry – who, what, where, when and way – and advised the members of Class 346 to turn these questions inward. “We should be a little more introspective,” Chief Black said. “And reflect on the things that are important as they apply to us as individuals in law enforcement.”

In his expansion on the internalization of the question of “Who?”, Chief Black compared the experiences the officers will have in their careers to the story of the collapse of the Silver Bridge on the West Virginia and Ohio border in 1967. The bridge collapse resulted in the deaths of 46 people and the ensuing investigation attributed the collapse to the failure of a single eyebar in a suspension chain, due to a small defect 0.1 inches deep.

Just as the bridge was exposed to the elements, Chief Black told the new officers that during their careers, they will be exposed to many terrible things, sometimes the worst things our society has to offer. Just as bridge inspectors need to pay attention to even the smallest aspect of a bridge, the officers need to pay close attention to the small things and issues that may compromise their integrity.

“Major corruption is the thing of movies and novels,” Chief Black said. “It is the minor flaws – the 1/8th inch cracks – that we need to be aware of. Those are the things that will take you, your reputation and the reputation of this profession down.”

Following Chief Black’s address, POST’s Sgt. Poret administered the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics to the graduating officers.

Officers stand with their right hands raised as they take the law enforcement code of ethics.

The new officers and deputies were then presented with their law enforcement certificates.

New Grand County Sheriff's Office deputy holds his law enforcement certificate.

New officer poses with members of his new department with his law enforcement certificate for a photo.

New officer shakes hands with members of his new department.

New officer holds his law enforcement certificate for a photo.

Newly graduated female deputy shakes hands with members of her department.

New officer embraces a member of his new department after getting his law enforcement certificate.

New South Salt Lake Police Department Officer Ahlborn delivered the class response. He recognized the sacrifices made by the members of Class 346 as well as those made by their family members. Officer Ahlborn described Class 346 as a very diverse one to which each member brought a unique perspective that helped broaden the horizons of the other members.

New South Salt Lake PD Officer Ahlborn delivers the class response.

Several of the graduating cadets were recognized for significant achievements. The Outstanding Firearms Award, which is given to the cadet with the overall high average on the day shoot and night shoot was presented to new Utah Department of Corrections (DOC) Officer Jeff Buck.