The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) celebrated the graduation of Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) Class 930 today at its headquarters in Burien. Thirty-one recruits graduated from the academy, completing months of training that prepared them to serve communities across Washington state as certified peace officers.
Each academy graduation represents an important milestone in public safety. The training recruits receive prepares them to serve with professionalism, accountability, and a strong understanding of the communities they protect.
For Class 930, that commitment was reflected in their class motto:
“Train hard and stay ready.”
“We’re here to train, and we’re constantly thinking about the future and what we want to be,” said Chris Bernal of the Federal Way Police Department and Class 930 President. “We want to be the best police officers. And knowing that begins with training.”
Building One Team from Many Backgrounds
Like every BLEA class, Class 930 brought together recruits from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and agencies across Washington state. That diversity created opportunities for recruits to learn from one another and build strong teamwork throughout the academy.
“There was a wide dynamic range of ages, experience, and motivations for service,” Bernal said. “Working through those differences and coming together as one unit in the end was really great to see.”
Class Vice President Matt Montes-Valdiva, from the Issaquah Police Department, said the shared academy experience helped recruits find common ground and support one another.
“At the beginning there were some difficult hiccups,” Montes said. “But we’re all training for the same goal. By the end, we realized we were much more similar than we thought.”
Training That Prepares Officers for Modern Policing
The Basic Law Enforcement Academy is Washington state’s required training program for newly hired peace officers. The academy combines classroom instruction with practical exercises designed to prepare recruits for the realities of modern policing and community-centered public safety.
During the academy, recruits receive training in areas such as:
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Washington state criminal and constitutional law
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De-escalation and communication techniques
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Defensive tactics and officer safety
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Scenario-based decision-making
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Firearms and emergency vehicle operations
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Crisis intervention and community engagement
Many recruits discover that the profession requires extensive legal knowledge and critical thinking in addition to physical skills.
“The biggest realization was how cerebral this work actually is,” Bernal said. “People sometimes think it’s all action like you see in movies, but it requires a deep understanding of the law to do the job correctly.”
Montes said the academy’s classroom instruction provides the foundation recruits need before applying their knowledge during scenario-based training.
“You spend time learning the law and building that base level of knowledge,” Montes said. “That foundation prepares you before you start working through the mock scenes and practical training.”
Graduation Marks the Beginning of Service
Graduation marks the completion of academy training, but it also represents the beginning of a career dedicated to learning and service. After leaving WSCJTC, graduates return to their agencies to begin field training, where they continue developing the skills learned at the academy.
“Graduation gives us the chance to step forward into our agencies,” Bernal said. “But it’s not the end. It’s just the beginning. You constantly have to keep learning if you want to be the best police officer.”
For many recruits, the ceremony also represents an opportunity to celebrate with the family members and friends who supported them during the demanding months of academy training.
“You’ve kind of been isolated for five months,” Montes said. “Graduation is when your family gets to see what you’ve been doing and share in that excitement. It brings everyone together around that idea of service.”
As the graduates of BLEA Class 930 begin their careers, they join thousands of officers who have trained at WSCJTC and now serve communities across Washington state.
About WSCJTC
Established in 1974, the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) serves as Washington state’s core training and certification body for law enforcement, corrections officers, and other public safety professionals. WSCJTC sets and upholds certification and training standards that are legally defensible, scientifically grounded, and centered on the communities we serve.
Nationally accredited by the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST)—including accreditation of its Southwest Regional Campus in Vancouver—WSCJTC delivers consistent, high-quality training statewide that builds trust, strengthens public safety, and prepares professionals to meet today’s challenges.