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POST Class #347 Graduation
Be the good! Do the good!
On Thursday, January 23, DPS’ Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Law Enforcement Academy held graduation exercises for Law Enforcement Officer Session #347.
Thirty-eight new officers, troopers and deputies graduated and will join 16 different law enforcement agencies throughout the state. The agencies receiving new law enforcement officers from session #346 are as follows:
- Adult Probation and Parole
- Cottonwood Heights Police Department
- Heber City Police Department
- Layton City Police Department
- Mapleton Police Department
- Orem City Police Department
- Price Police Department
- Provo Police Department
- Tooele City Police Department
- Unified Police Department
- Utah County Sheriff’s Office
- Utah Highway Patrol
- Vernal Police Department
- Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office
- Washington County Sheriff’s Office
- West Valley City Police Department
Wasatch County Sheriff Jared Rigby delivered the keynote address at the ceremony.
Sheriff Rigby reflected upon the oath the cadets were about the stand and take. The new officers swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Utah. Sheriff Rigby noted that standing and taking this oath is similar to swearing to tell the truth in court and advised the new officers to never exaggerate or embellish, and not to hold back speaking the entire truth.
“In this profession, your word and your credibility are more important than any other consideration that you have to offer.”
Wasatch County Sheriff Jared Rigby
“There’s a force for good that protects this country and her citizens from tyranny and terrorism,” Sheriff Rigby said. “As long as you and I honor the principles of the Constitution and if you do that, we’re part of that force for good. You and our military servicemen and women hold that line, and the country loves you for it.”
Sheriff Rigby congratulated the cadets for their graduation and ended by quoting Dr. Martin Luther King – to whom Sheriff Rigby had referred earlier in his speech – when he shared a phrase from the song “My Country ‘Tis of Thee:” “Long may our land be bright, with freedom’s holy light, protect us by thy might, great God our king.”
Following Sheriff Rigby’s address, POST’s Sgt. Watkins administered the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics to the graduating officers.
The new officers and deputies were then presented with their law enforcement certificates.
New Trooper Citta delivered the class response. He thanked the family members for their support and recognized the POST staff for their dedication and hard work. As he reflected on Class #347 and what brought them together at POST, he noted that “It was more than just prior experience or how many push ups I could do. It’s how we wanted to do good for others. We wanted to create an environment in which everyone felt welcome and safe.”
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 County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Nielson.
New Orem City Police Department Officer Bishop received the Outstanding Emergency Vehicle Operations Award.
New Trooper Dunn received the Outstanding Physical Fitness Award.
The High Academic Award went to new Trooper Bagley.
New Trooper Bagley also received the Outstanding Achiever Award, presented by the Utah Peace Officer Association.
Congratulations, Class 347! Welcome to the Utah law enforcement family!
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