Local Graduate Among New Class of South Dakota Law Enforcement Officers

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - Forty-five recruits representing 31 different law enforcement agencies across South Dakota are graduating this Friday from the state’s Basic Law Enforcement Certification Course in Pierre. Among the graduates of the 198th class is Michael Fedt, who will join the Watertown Police Department.

The 13-week training program, overseen by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), is required for students to become fully qualified law enforcement officers in the state. Graduates complete a demanding 520 hours of coursework. This training includes comprehensive instruction in areas such as criminal law, arrest control tactics, firearms, vehicle handling, and criminal investigations.

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley congratulated the graduating class.

“The Basic Law Enforcement Certification Course is a rigorous 13-week training where students are challenged in different areas of law enforcement,” said Attorney General Jackley. “Congratulations to the recruits who have committed themselves to serving their communities and South Dakota as law enforcement officers.”

The graduation ceremony is scheduled for Friday at 10 a.m. CST at the George S. Mickelson Criminal Justice Center in Pierre, with Attorney General Jackley serving as the keynote speaker.

Graduates Representing Northeast South Dakota

Several graduates from the 198th Basic Law Enforcement Certification Course will be joining agencies in the wider Northeast South Dakota area, in addition to Michael Fedt of the Watertown Police Department:

·         Makendra Oschsner, Brown County Sheriff’s Office (Aberdeen)

·         Melissa Ulber, Aberdeen Police Department

·         Trent Remily, Spink County Sheriff’s Office

·         Benjamin Thompson, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Police Enforcement

The training program is taught by full-time DCI staff along with adjunct instructors from law enforcement agencies across South Dakota.

The members of the 198th Basic Law Enforcement Certification Course and their respective law enforcement agencies are:

·         Clay Ambach, Pierre Police Department

·         Lamar Anderson, Lead Police Department

·         Fabian Avelar, Rapid City Police Department

·         Dustin Baxter, Jr., Mellette County Sheriff’s Office

·         Alan Blackburn, Yankton Sioux Tribe

·         Brandon Briseno, Jr., Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety

·         Jonathan Carlstedt, Yankton Police Department

·         Jake Cote, Rapid City Police Department

·         Darli Diaz Gonzalez, Huron Police Department

·         Stephanie Dockter, Rapid City Police Department

·         Austin Edwards, Elk Point Police Department

·         Jon Esmay, Murdo Police Department

·         Michael Fedt, Watertown Police Department

·         Jonathan Fiester, Rapid City Police Department

·         Isabella Fills the Pipe, Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety

·         Gracie Koenig, Gregory Police Department

·         Mariah Koenig, Vermillion Police Department

·         Abby Lawrence, Spearfish Police Department

·         W Barrett Martin, Pierre Police Department

·         Dusty Merchen, Belle Fourche Police Department

·         Lindsey Miller, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI)

·         Noah Misselt, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office

·         Caleb Misselt, Box Elder Police Department

·         Caleb Mohror, Union County Sheriff’s Office

·         Makendra Oschsner, Brown County Sheriff’s Office

·         Christopher Owusu, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office

·         Jamie Peckenpaugh, Rapid City Police Department

·         Shawn Perkins, Jr., Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety

·         Steven Plank, Rosebud Game, Fish, and Parks Department

·         Vernon Plenty Bull, Custer County Sheriff’s Office

·         Shanden Reiners, Mitchell Police Department

·         Trent Remily, Spink County Sheriff’s Office

·         Ramiro Romero, Mobridge Police Department

·         Keegan Tandy, Rapid City Police Department

·         Hailey Thompson, Box Elder Police Department

·         Benjamin Thompson, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Police Enforcement

·         Jose Torres, Jr., Moody County Sheriff’s Office

·         Melissa Ulber, Aberdeen Police Department

·         Michael Volz, Mobridge Police Department

·         Robert Wells, Canton Police Department

·         Talea Weston, Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety

·         Jessup Workman, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office

·         Trey Yellow Boy, Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety

·         Ashley Yellow Bull-Mousseau, Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety

·         Ryan Zimmerman, Faulk County Sheriff’s Office