Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington hosted the graduation ceremony Friday morning for 17 recruits from Class 020 of the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Training Academy in Plain Dealing.
The recruits from four different agencies officially became certified P.O.S.T. (Peace Officer Standards and Training) law enforcement officers and will report to their respective agencies for follow-on training and assignments.
The guest speaker was Louisiana State Senator Ryan Gatti, District 36, and he thanked the new law enforcement officers and told them they are what makes Louisiana great.
The academy is hosted by Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington and the Bossier Sheriff’s Office. Recruits learn officer survival skills, legal issues, weapons qualifications, physical fitness, non-lethal force and much more.
Class President was Jay Turner of the Bossier Sheriff’s Office, and he presented a plaque on behalf of the class to Sheriff Whittington and the academy instructors.
Maj. Bruce Teutsch, Academy Director, spoke of the outstanding team of instructors serving at the academy, which includes Capt. Al Langley, Lt. Sarah Rhodes, Lt. Mickey Rellin, Sgt. Clint Robins, Sgt. Robert Teague, Sgt. Jeremy Haas, Sgt. Joey Bowen, and Dep. Kenny Viola, and Mrs. Mabria Grosjean.
Four awards were presented to the recruits. Deputy Eric Downey of the Bossier Sheriff’s Office received the Firearms Proficiency Award, and Deputy John Mark Carroll of the Bossier Sheriff’s Office won the Academic Award. Deputy Daniel Giddings of the Bossier Sheriff’s Office received the Physical Fitness Award, and Officer Matthew Welch of the Bossier City Police Department received the Honor Graduate award.
The graduating class of BPSTA Class 020 is:
Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office (presented by Chief Deputy Randy Price)
- Weston Salter
Bossier City Police Department (presented by Captain Richard Nunnery)
- Edway Gallier
- Matthew Welch
- Keandra West
Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office (presented by Sheriff Julian Whittington)
- John Carroll
- Eric Downey
- Daniel Giddings
- Cole Laird
- Ashley Morgan
- Randall Moseley
- Luis Moya
- Maradyth Richey
- Christopher Shavers
- Cody Smith
- Richard Smith
- Jay Turner
LSU Shreveport Police Department (presented by Chief Donald Wray)
- Andrew Young
The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Training Academy, formerly known as the North Louisiana Criminal Justice Academy, held its first graduation in 2009. Over the past 10 years, nearly 400 recruits have been trained to become POST-certified law enforcement officers. The next academy will begin on Aug. 2 for Class 021.
You can see photos below (all photos courtesy of Lt. Bill Davis/Bossier Sheriff’s Office):
Andrew Young, LSUS Police Department 
Keandra West, Bossier City Police Department 
Matthew Welch, Bossier City Police Department 
Jay Turner, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office 
Richard Smith, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office 
Cody Smith, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office 
Christopher Shavers, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office 
Weston Salter, Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office 
Maradyth Richey, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office Luis Moya, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office 
Randall Moseley, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office 
Ashley Morgan, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office 
Cole Laird, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office 
Daniel Giddings, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office 
Edway Gallier, Bossier City Police Department Eric Downey, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office 
John Carroll, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office 
Honor Graduate Award, Matthew Welch, Bossier City Police Department 
Academic Award, John Carroll, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office Firearms Proficiency Award, Eric Downey, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office 
Lt. Sarah Rhodes, BPSTA Executive Officer 
Physical Fitness Award, Daniel Giddings, Bossier City Police Department 
La. Sen. Ryan Gatti 
Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington Maj. Bruce Teutsch, BPSTA Director 
