SLEA Graduates Class of 58 Recruits

The Suburban Law Enforcement Academy at the College of DuPage recently graduated 58 recruits representing 36 police agencies across the State of Illinois.

The ceremony honored the recruits for completing 12 weeks – 480 hours – of basic law enforcement officer training this past fall.

Six special awards were presented to the recruits. Officer Craig Zelhart of the Oak Forest Police Department was presented the Firearms Proficiency Award as well as the Best Overall Physical Fitness Award. Officer Brian Gerken of the Northern Illinois University Police Department earned the Academic Achievement Award. Officer Bradley Riley of the Addison Police Department earned the Leadership Award. Officer Kevin Roberts of the Highland Park Police Department was awarded the Most Improved Physical Fitness Award. Officer Dorian Jarrette of the Elmhurst Police Department received the George Graves Award for being selected as the most distinguished recruit by the other officers in the class.

Interim SLEA Director Dan Maloney addressed the assembly of approximately 600 guests comprised of the graduates’ family members as well as representatives of the recruit officer’s employing agencies. The ceremony, held in Wentz Hall at North Central College in Naperville, also featured keynote speaker Kevin O’Connell, Chief of Investigations for the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, who addressed the graduating class during a speech welcoming them as they enter the law enforcement profession.

Each recruit’s name and department was then called out as they walked across the stage and accepted their training certificate from the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy. Some recruits had the privilege of having their certificates presented to them by a current or retired family member who served in law enforcement. One retired officer was unable to present his son with his graduation certificate because he is currently assigned by his employee as an investigative assistant to an Afghanistan police agency. But through assistance from North Central College, he was able to view the entire ceremony via a Skype connection.

For more information on the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy, visit the web site at www.cod.edu/slea.