Sheriff's Office

For Immediate Release

After completing 700 hours of intensive training to become Nevada peace officers, 17 recruits who are about to graduate from the Northern Nevada Law Enforcement Academy will celebrate with a six-mile run from the Regional Public Safety Training Center to the James D. Hoff Peace Officer Memorial on Thursday afternoon.

The 2014 Academy Pride Run starts at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 22, 2014 at the Training Center located at 5190 Spectrum Blvd. Runners will head west on Parr, past the Sheriff's Office then south on Virginia Street to the Reno Arch. They'll pause at the arch for a group photo then continue to the Hoff Memorial in Idlewild Park.

The official graduation ceremony takes place this Friday, May 23, 2014 in the Tuscany Ballroom at the Peppermill Hotel Casino. The graduating class includes eight from the Washoe County Sheriff's Office, four from the Reno Police Department, three from the University of Nevada, and two from the Sparks Police Department.

"These men and women have earned the right to serve our community as Police Officers and Deputy Sheriffs through weeks of hard work and dedication," said Academy Commander Lieutenant Greg Herrera of the Washoe County Sheriff's Office. "They have been taught, trained and tested physically and mentally. This is a great moment for them and their families."

Northern Nevada Law Enforcement Academy

The regional academy training took place over a 20 week period at the Regional Public Safety Training Center. In order to meet the numerous requirements for a Category I peace officer, recruits were trained and tested physically and academically. They were also required to demonstrate their skills and abilities through scenario based training exercises.

Academy topics include crime and crime scene investigation, constitutional law, criminal and civil law, search and seizure, defensive tactics, emergency vehicle operation, weapons handling, victim's rights, law enforcement ethics, and cultural awareness.

All graduates were required to pass the Nevada Peace Officers' Standards and Training (POST) exam and meet Nevada POST physical fitness requirements.

The Northern Nevada Law Enforcement Academy is a Nevada approved POST Academy. The Academy is a cooperative effort between the Reno Police Department, Sparks Police Department and the Washoe County Sheriff's Office.

"This collaboration provides our community with the highest quality, most efficient, effective and progressive training in the region," Lieutenant Herrera said.

The Washoe County Sheriff's Office is dedicated to preserving a safe and secure community with professionalism, respect, integrity and the highest commitment to equality. Sheriff Darin Balaam is the 27th person elected to serve as the Sheriff of Washoe County since the Office was created in 1861. The Washoe County Sheriff's Office strives to ensure public safety by building trust and creating partnerships within the diverse communities in which we serve. We will promote the dignity of all people supported by our words and actions through open communication while fostering an environment of professionalism, integrity and mutual respect.

Attached audio files...

Download this audio file - (Academy Pride and Graduation May 2014 - 1 MB mp3)