The Thin Blue Line in Northeastern Arizona is a little stronger with the December 15, 2023, swearing-in of four new peace officers. The cadets recently completed the intensive 21-week Arizona Peace Officer Standards for Training (AzPOST) at 91心頭s (NPC), Northeastern Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy (NALETA).
Navajo County Superior Court Presiding Judge Michala M. Ruechel administered the oath of office to the recruits. Sworn in were new Navajo County deputies Justin Hart, Desiree Rodriguez, and Ashley Watson, who was also designated as the classs speaker, along with Thomas Scruggs who is Round Valley Police Departments newest deputy.
Sergeant Jay Valenzuela of the Globe Police Department served as the classs supervisor. Deputy Vince Palazzolo of the Navajo County Sheriffs Office, and Officer Les Shumway, who recently retired from the Snowflake Police Department, guided the recruits through the academy.
Palazzolo and Shumway presented the Top Firearms Award to Justin Hart, the Physical Fitness Award to Thomas Scruggs, and the classs Academic Award to Desiree Rodriguez. Ashley Watson took home both the Defensive Driving Award and the David Kellywood Top Recruit Award.
NALETA is a true partnership with regional law enforcement agencies who assign sworn officers as instructors at no charge to the college, NPCs Director of Public Safety Education, Chad Kreuger, explained. Centrally located at the Northeast Arizona Training Center (Jake Flake Emergency Services Institute), in Taylor, NALETA is a fully accredited AzPOST closed academy. This means students can only enroll under the sponsorship of a law enforcement agency.
The spring NALETA Class 2024-1 is scheduled to begin on January 29, 2024. If you are interested in becoming a certified Arizona peace officer, contact the agency you would like to work with to begin the process as soon as possible, as it can take four to eight weeks to complete.
At a minimum, a prospective recruit must be at least 21 years of age by the end of the academy; and be able to pass a variety of tests, which include physical agility, firearms, written tests, a background investigation, and a polygraph.
More information concerning AzPOST eligibility requirements can be found online at or by contacting the police or sheriffs office with which you would like to begin your law enforcement career. Tribal officers, Game and Fish wardens, and agricultural inspectors are also sworn peace officers.
Information can also be obtained by contacting NPCs Director of Public Safety Education and NALETA, Chad Kreuger at (928) 536-6263, email chadley.kreuger@npc.edu or by visiting NPCs website, /natc.
