The 鈥淭hin Blue Line鈥 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香蕉视频鈥檚 (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 class鈥檚 speaker, along with Thomas Scruggs who is Round Valley Police Department鈥檚 newest deputy.
Sergeant Jay Valenzuela of the Globe Police Department served as the class鈥檚 supervisor. Deputy Vince Palazzolo of the Navajo County Sheriff鈥檚 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 class鈥檚 Academic Award to Desiree Rodriguez. Ashley Watson took home both the Defensive Driving Award and the David Kellywood Top Recruit Award.
鈥淣ALETA is a true partnership with regional law enforcement agencies who assign sworn officers as instructors at no charge to the college,鈥 NPC鈥檚 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 鈥渃losed鈥 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 sheriff鈥檚 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 NPC鈥檚 Director of Public Safety Education and NALETA, Chad Kreuger at (928) 536-6263, email chadley.kreuger@npc.edu or by visiting NPC鈥檚 website, /natc.
