Determined to fulfill their class motto and “Live with Honor; Serve with Pride,” nine cadets earned their official badges during a swearing-in ceremony on May 29, 2026, at Northland Pioneer College’s (NPC) Performing Arts Center.
These are the latest graduates of the intensive 21-week Arizona Peace Officer Standards for Training (AZPOST) at Northland Pioneer College’s (NPC) Northeastern Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy (NALETA).
Presiding Navajo County Superior Court District IV Judge Michala Ruechel administered the oath of office to the recruits. Sworn in were new Navajo County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) Deputies Benjamin Meeks, who was also selected as the class leader, along with Randon Rogers, David Talerico, and Jake Walker. Joining them were new officers Tony Espitia of the Holbrook Police Department, Francisco Gloria and Jonathan Lopez of the Snowflake/Taylor Police Department, Luis Moralez of the St. Johns Police Department, and San Carlos Apache police officer Diego Mendoza.
The ceremony’s guest speaker, Pastor David Marshall of the Snowflake Calvary Chapel, addressed those gathered. “Today represents sacrifice. It represents discipline. It represents a decision very few people are willing to make in today’s world. The decision to stand between peace and chaos, between order and disorder, between safety and danger.” To the recruits, he said, “You have chosen a profession that demands courage when others retreat, integrity when compromise would be easier, and service when recognition may never come. For that, you deserve our respect.” He stressed that communities are built on trust. “People do not expect perfection. They expect integrity,” he said. “This is a profession that will challenge you mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. But it is also a profession filled with meaning.” He added, “Years from now, you may not remember every lesson from the academy, but you’ll remember the lives you touched. You’ll remember the people you helped, and you’ll remember the moments when your presence made a difference.” He told the recruits, “Carry yourselves with honor, protect the vulnerable, defend the innocent, stand for truth, lead with courage, and serve with humility. Never forget that the authority that you carry is ultimately a trust placed in you by the people you serve. Today you’ll graduate as officers; tomorrow you’ll begin serving as guardians for members of your community.” He concluded, “May you do so with wisdom, integrity, and unwavering dedication.”
Navajo County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) Sergeant Dustin Matkin served as the class supervisor. He, along with fellow NCSO Sergeant Robert Santos, guided the recruits through the academy and presented the class awards. The top academic award went to NCSO recruit David Talerico. Fellow recruit Tony Espitia earned the “top shot” firearms award. The award for killing the most cones during the defensive driving training went to recruit Luis Morales of the St. Johns police department, who was deemed the “cone killer.” The class’s top physical fitness award went to San Carlos Apache Police Department recruit Diego Mendoza. The prestigious “David Kellywood Top Recruit” award goes to the recruit who strives to do their best at all times in everything they do and encourages others to do the same. It honors the life of 1991 NALETA graduate David Kellywood, who died in the line of duty in February 2020. NCSO Recruit Benjamin Meeks earned the honor and also took home the class’s top defensive driving award.
NALETA is a partnership with regional law enforcement agencies that assign sworn officers as instructors under NPC’s Public Safety Education program. 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 in the police academy under the sponsorship of a local law enforcement agency.
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. These include physical agility, firearms, written tests, a background investigation, and a polygraph.
For more information about AzPOST eligibility requirements, visit post.az.gov or contact the police or sheriff’s office where you would like to begin your law enforcement career. Tribal officers, Game and Fish wardens, and agricultural inspectors are also sworn peace officers.
To learn more, contact NPC’s Director of NALETA and Public Safety Education, Chad Kreuger, at (928) 536-6263 or chadley.kreuger@npc.edu or visit NPC’s website, https://www.npc.edu/natc. To view a photo gallery of the 2026-01 completers ceremony, visit https://www.npc.edu/photos
