Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Training Academy held a graduation ceremony for 19 law enforcement officers from five area agencies at the academy headquarters in Plain Dealing on Friday, November 10th.

Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington hosted the class as recruits from BPSTA Class 030 completed 16 weeks of training to officially become P.O.S.T. (Peace Officer Standards and Training) certified law enforcement officers. Their training consisted of learning a myriad of skills to include legal issues, weapons qualifications, physical fitness, non-lethal force, officer survival skills, and much more. The graduates will report to their respective agencies for assignments and follow-up training.

The guest speaker for the event was RaShad Bristo. Mr. Bristo told the recruits his inspirational story about how he overcame physical disabilities to achieve his dream of becoming a POST certified law enforcement officer in Desoto Parish. Mr. Bristo accomplished this feat while being born with only one arm.

The academy staff is comprised of director Capt. Sarah Rhodes and staff – Lt. Clint Robins, Lt. Robert Teague, Lt. Mickey Rellin, Sgt. Jeremy Haas, Sgt. Joey Bowen, Sgt. Justin Hutchens, Corporal Lynette Avery, Dep. Bruce Teutsch, Dep. Al Langley, Dep. Kenny Viola, and Miss Dana Brossett.

Lt. Robins presented four academy awards to the recruits:

• Physical Fitness Award – Deputy Caleb Krikorian, Bossier Sheriff’s Office

• Firearms Proficiency Award – Officer Matthew Jones, Northwestern State University PD

• Academic Award – Deputy Angelika LaCoco – Bossier Sheriff’s Office

• Honor Graduate Award – Deputy Caleb Krikorian, Bossier Sheriff’s Office

The graduating class of BPSTA Class 030 is:

Bossier City Police Department

N’Dric Clark

Martin Collins

Leah Hackett

CoyDarren Hines

Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office

Kole Ackerson

Hannah Bellotte

Matthew Creamer

Gaige Davis

Andrew Densmore

Jaime Figueroa III

Hunter Jenkins

Caleb Krikorian

Angelika LaCoco (Class President)

Ethan Pope

Charlie Tuggle

Minden Police Department

Marlin Choyce

Northwestern State University PD

Matthew Jones

Webster Parish SO

John Brown

Jeffery Hood

The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Training Academy, formerly known as the North Louisiana Criminal Justice Academy, held its first graduation in 2009. Over the past 14 years, instructors have trained more than 600 recruits to become POST-certified law enforcement officers. BPSTA Class 031 begins training on Jan. 5, 2024.