Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College (FDLTCC) is excited to announce the graduation of 17 students who successfully completed program requirements in the Criminal Justice / Peace Officer Skills Program in 2025. This is the 25th group of students to participate in the Criminal Justice / Peace Officer Skills program at FDLTCC and the majority of this year’s graduates are completing the program with conditional offers at agencies across the region.
During the ceremony, class speaker Jenna Flaata of Norwood Young America provided commentary on the bond the students formed throughout the program.
“…through the chaos we kept showing up,” shared Flaata, “…that kind of commitment is not taught in classrooms, that is earned, and every single one of us earned it. We started as strangers, but we are now leaving as a unit.”
2013 graduate, Sergeant Joseph Workman, Pine County Sheriff Deputy, shared reflections as a FDLTCC graduate and commented on the graduates’ hard work and the field they are entering.
“Congratulations to the graduating class. Today we recognize your hard work, your determination, and your commitment to stepping into the most challenging, yet rewarding professions out there. You’ve earned this moment.”
The Les Northrup Leadership Award, voted on by fellow students, recognizing a classmate who epitomizes leadership, wisdom, mentoring and being a role model to their peers, was awarded to Troy Homstad of Cromwell.
Homstad concluded his speech with sharing, “I’m proud of all you guys, proud of all the work that we’ve done, and I’m proud to serve alongside you.”
Instructor of the Year Award, voted on by the class, went to Investigator Aaron Pry of the Duluth Police Department. Pry teaches Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) and Death Investigation. Libby Colt of Cloquet was presented with a new scholarship from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Colt also received the Katie Poirier Memorial Scholarship.
Students completed the intensive hands-on training on the morning of June 30, before the graduation ceremony that afternoon. Classroom training and over 600 hours of skill training are required of all individuals seeking careers as peace officers in Minnesota. After classroom and skills training, students are required to pass the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training Board exam to become eligible for employment as a peace officer in Minnesota.
Skills training topics include: accident investigation, auto theft, radio communications, mobile field force, crimes in progress response, domestic violence investigation and intervention, drug interdiction, DUI detection and standardized field sobriety testing, emergency vehicle operations, radar enforcement, traffic stops, crime scene investigation, gang education, drug and controlled substance investigations, report writing, aerosol chemical weapons and chemical agents, diversity, community policing, professional ethics, and firearms training.
A recording of the ceremony is available at https://www.youtube.com/live/wIjG5nK3yVo?si=cl7NlmjledwGpvSh.
For more information on the Criminal Justice / Peace Officer program at Fond du lac Tribal and Community College, please visit https://fdltcc.edu/criminal-justice-peace-officer/.
The following students successfully completed the Criminal Justice / Peace Officer Skills program at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College and are members of the Class of 2025:
Bigfork MN
Dakota Goudy
Cloquet MN
Libby Colt
Cromwell MN
Troy Homstad
Duluth MN
Cody Anderson
Carson Merkel
Lana Mitchell
Alexa Verry
Jakob Wendinger
Esko MN
Daniel Scheer
Hinckley MN
Elijah Currie
Kettle River MN
Logan Tomczak
Norwood Young America MN
Jenna Flaata
Otsego MN
Lance Hallquist
Rochester MN
Owen Schroeder
Sandstone MN
Henry Randa
Superior WI
Taylee Anderson
Brady Herbst