Suburban Law Enforcement Academy Graduates Class of 45 Recruits

The Suburban Law Enforcement Academy at College of DuPage recently graduated 45 recruits representing 32 police agencies in Northern Illinois.

The ceremony honored the recruits for completing 12 weeks - 480 hours - of basic law enforcement officer training which began this past summer.

Six special awards were presented to the recruits. Officer Victor Valdez of the Elmhurst Police Department was presented the Firearms Proficiency Award and the Best Overall Physical Fitness Award. Officer Erin Sheridan of the Wheaton Police Department earned the Academic Achievement Award. Officer Mark Besch of the Addison Police Department received the Most Improved Physical Fitness Award. Officer Alan Thibeault of the Prospect Heights Police Department earned the Leadership Award. Officer James Dexter of the Lisle Police Department was presented with the George Graves Award for being selected as the most distinguished recruit by his fellow officers in the class. All award winners received plaques with their names engraved.

The graduating recruits are as follows:

Chris Arbet, Aurora Police Department

Benjamin Belcaster, Wheaton Police Department

Mark Besch, Addison Police Department

Jody Brandis, Kendal County Sheriff's Office

Brian Bruesch, Park Forest Police Department

Atif Bukhari, Harper College Police Department

Peter Burgert, Kane County Sheriff's Department

Kenneth Bus, Roselle Police Department

Ignacio Cervantes, Kane County Sheriff's Office

Khaled Dalal, Roselle Police Department

Christine Danan, Willowbrook Police Department

Adam Danowski, Crystal Lake Police Department

James Dexter, Lisle Police Department

Bartek Giera, Mount Prospect Police Department

Emily Grape, Wood Dale Police Department

Justin Harris, Antioch Police Department

Charlie Hilbrant, Highland Park Police Department

Richard Jackson, Montgomery Police Department

Carlos Juarez, Amtrak Police Department

Kayte Kettler, Wheaton Police Department

Eric Knippel, Mount Prospect Police Department

Kristyn Knoll, Itasca Police Department

William Kopecky, Oakton Community College Police Department

Krzysztof Kowal, Hoffman Estates Police Department

Conner Lain, Naperville Police Department

Zachary Lattmann, Westmont Police Department

Kevin Manetti, Berkeley Police Department

Christian Mennel, Palatine Police Department

Daniel Mizialko, Addison Police Department

Ellie Nordin, Mount Prospect Police Department

Ryan Pacyga, Arlington Heights Police Department

Colton Parchem, Naperville Police Department

Michael Ranieri, Deerfield Police Department

Luke Rider, Lisle Police Department

Nicholas Robertson, Palatine Police Department

Korbin Rome, Lombard Police Department

Terrence Rose, Wheeling Police Department

Alexander Sampra, Skokie Police Department

Michael Sawicki, Palatine Police Department

Erin Sheridan, Wheaton Police Department

Malwina Sobanski, Addison Police Department

Alan Thibeault, Prospect Heights Police Department

Victor Valdez, Elmhurst Police Department

John Veenhuis, Skokie Police Department

Richard Waszak, Woodridge Police Department

College of DuPage President Dr. Robert L. Breuder and Associate Dean of Continuing Education/Director of the Homeland Security Training Institute Thomas Brady offered their congratulations to the graduating recruits. The keynote speaker was Chief David Anderson of the Lisle Police Department.

The ceremony was held in the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage. For more information on the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy, visit the web site at www.cod.edu/slea.