Mid-State Technical College hosted a recognition ceremony for its fall 2023 graduates of the Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement 720 Academy program, marking the 37th class of graduates from the Academy. The Dec. 13 event on the Wisconsin Rapids Campus brought the 20 students together to honor their accomplishment. 

The graduates have completed the basic law enforcement training required to become a law enforcement officer in Wisconsin through Mid-State’s Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement 720 Academy.

“I am grateful for the experiences I had during the Law Enforcement Academy and am excited to take this next step in my career,” said Adam Spaw, Law Enforcement Academy class president. “We had the privilege to learn from instructors with many years of experience in law enforcement. Their expertise and guidance have prepared us to enter the workforce as law enforcement officers.”

“The Law Enforcement Academy prepares recruits for the communication, decision making and physical rigor that will be required of them on a daily basis as they start their careers,” said Kurt Heuer, Law Enforcement and Jail Academy director. "The 720 hours of the Law Enforcement Academy are an intense mix of classroom and hands-on training and a critical step for those entering the field of law enforcement as a sworn, certified officer. Today’s Academy graduates are well-equipped to protect and serve our communities.”

According to Heuer, Mid-State also has an articulation agreement with the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point that allows UW-Stevens Point students to take a semester off from their studies to attend Mid-State’s academy and earn UW-Stevens Point credit for that experience.

Successful completion of law enforcement basic training is required to be certified by the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) as a law enforcement officer in the state of Wisconsin. Mid-State Technical College offers two basic training academies each year (spring and fall). The 720-hour, 18-week curriculum is determined by the DOJ, and the content of the academy includes a wide and diverse presentation of subjects, addressing all the essential functions required of law enforcement officers.  

Following are Mid-State’s fall 2023 Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement 720 Academy graduates. 

Jackson Beggs – Plainfield 
Mitchell Bignell – Plover 
Ryan Bink – Nekoosa 
Tristyn Cohs – Plover
Hunter Ebbe – Nekoosa
Codi Fox – Vesper 
Evan Harris – Nekoosa
Kenneth Johnson – Iola 
Carson Junemann – Vesper
Kolton Kessler – Wisconsin Rapids
Katelyn Kurtz – Townsend
Clayton Madison-Dawson – Stevens Point
Lucas May – Stevens Point
Yia Pao Moua – Plover
Vanessa Olson – Watertown
Rebecca Ostrowski – Custer
Adam Spaw – Nekoosa
Barron Taylor – Arpin 
Jacob Van Ert – Wisconsin Rapids
Jaylon Zacharias – Plainfield 

Learn more about Mid-State’s Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement 720 Academy and Criminal Justice-Studies programs at mstc.edu/programs.