South Dakota Attorney General

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Graduation Held For 186th Basic Law Enforcement Certification Course Students press release image

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, June 2, 2023

CONTACT: Tony Mangan, Communications Director, 605-773-6878

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley congratulated the 46 students who graduated Friday from the state Basic Law Enforcement Certification Course as they completed a 13-week training program and became fully qualified law enforcement officers in the state.

“This is a major milestone not only for the students, but also their families,” said Attorney General Jackley who spoke at the graduation. “They have demonstrated a dedication and commitment to keeping their communities safe.”

Graduates are required to complete 520 hours of course work that includes instruction in the law, arrest control tactics, firearms, vehicle handling, and criminal investigations. The training program is taught by full-time staff from the Division of Criminal Investigation and adjunct instructors from law enforcement agencies from across the state.

Friday’s graduation was held in the George S. Mickelson Criminal Justice Center in Pierre.

Members of the 186th Basic Law Enforcement Certification Course and their law enforcement organization are attached. Class photo is below.

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Members of the 186th Basic Law Enforcement Certification Course and their law enforcement organization are:

Christopher Aid, Winner Police Department; Tucker Bedford, Sturgis Police Department; Roland Beliveau II, Rapid City Police Department; Adam Bradshaw, Sioux Falls Police Department; Zachary Clifton, Yankton County Sheriff’s Office; Brennan Culverhouse, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office; Gabriel Dillow, Rapid City Police Department; Dakota Dodds, Codington County Sheriff’s Office; Cole Dummermuth, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department; Adam Fuest, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department; Lincoln Gibbs, Butte County Sheriff’s Office; Brayden Gilbert, Rapid City Police Department; Nicholas Greisiger, Sioux Falls Police Department; Wayne Harris, Jr., Rapid City Police Department; James Hoffard, Scotland Police Department; Jacob Hoffman, Vermillion Police Department; Trevor Houska, Deadwood Police Department; Cherelle Hughes, Hot Springs Police Department; Tyler Jordan, South Dakota Highway Patrol; Quincy Kjerstad, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; Nolan Koistinen, South Dakota Highway Patrol; Samuel Krier, Aberdeen Police Department; William Lacina, Sioux Falls Police Department; Jorge Ledezma, Jr., Yankton Police Department; Maxus Mach, Union County Sheriff’s Office; Kohn Mahoney, Platte Police Department; Matthew Maxfield, Hot Springs Police Department; Eddie Moua Pennington County Sheriff’s Office; Riley Nelson, Rapid City Police Department; Kyle Ness, Aurora County Sheriff’s Office; Kevin O’Mahoney, Union County Sheriff’s Office; Derek Pelton, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department; Seth Reiss, Sioux Falls Police Department; Lance Rokusek, Webster Police Department; Austin Searles, Sisseton Police Department; Austin Shoemaker, South Dakota Highway Patrol; Heather Skogen, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office; Nicholas Stark, Vermillion Police Department; Willis Strawn IV, Elk Point Police Department; Michael Tilus, Rapid City Police Department; Justice Tobin, Vermillion Police Department; Ulises Trujillo, Sioux Falls Police Department; Damon Weimann, Rapid City Police Department; Aaron-James Whited, McPherson County Sheriff’s Office; Kyle Worden, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and, Riley Zuhde, Sioux Falls Police Department.