At 3PM on Thursday, June 1,2023, Academy 22-2 graduated with 15 recruits; two of those are with Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson (JBER) and one is with Palmer PD. The APD officers will begin the Field Training (FTO) portion of their program within the next few days. Once each officer successfully completes that phase, he/she will become a solo officer. Congratulations graduates!

Tanner Baird (JBER)

Micaela Belz

Danielle Berlin

Alexander Bishop

Jake Bottorff

Codie Etnier (JBER)

Nicholas Flechsing

Andrew Henegar

Johnathon Holgate

Kongpheng Lor

Karl Nightstar

Ryan Ogden (Palmer PD)

Braden Shackelford

Brendan Whetsell

Jacob Willey

Several Awards were also handed out today to the following graduates:

Top Shooter – Alex Bishop

Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) Award – Alex Bishop

Distinguished Honor Graduate Award – Jacob Willey

Barry Hetlet Officer Survival Award – Jacob Willey

Defensive Tactics Award – Dani Berlin

Valedictorian – Braden Shackelford

Most Improved Shooter Award – Karl Nightstar

Leadership Award – Nick Flechsing

“I am happy for today’s celebration and am very much looking forward to having more officers on the street,” stated Anchorage Police Chief Michael Kerle. “I am excited to see how each of these men and women will choose to shape their careers within this department.  Their service will be a great benefit to this community whom we are so fortunate to serve.”

Congratulations to our law enforcement partners at JBER and Palmer Police Department. To our own APD graduates, welcome to our blue family! We are happy to have you and look forward to the day when you hit the streets as solo officers.