A version of this story appeared in the May 3 Glenwood Springs Post Independent.
By Carrie Click
GLENWOOD SPRINGS – On May 2, 19 students from CMC’s Colorado Law Enforcement Training Academy graduated, wearing law enforcement uniforms instead of caps and gowns. As they listened to Jack Cauley, Castle Rock chief of police, give the commencement address, the students knew they were prepared for jobs with police or sheriff’s departments.
Thanks to a grant from AT&T, six of CLETA’s 2018-19 graduates were able to attend college to prepare themselves for a new career.
The $11,850 in funds administered by the Colorado Mountain College Foundation cut tuition costs nearly in half for the half-dozen newly minted graduates, helping them take the necessary steps to serve their Colorado communities as police officers.
An ‘exceptional program’
Roberta Robinette, president, AT&T Colorado, said she discovered CLETA after Vail Police Chief Dwight Henninger told AT&T about an “exceptional program” at Colorado Mountain College. AT&T supports law enforcement as is evident by its extensive FirstNet infrastructure,, a nationwide communications network dedicated to America’s first responders and the public safety community in partnership with the First Responder Network Authority.
“AT&T is proud to support CLETA and the law enforcement community,” said Robinette. “We are committed to advancing public safety and helping first responders keep our communities safe, whether through training programs, like CMC’s, or through technology.”
Chief Henninger acknowledged AT&T and the difference the company makes in promoting safety throughout Colorado’s rural communities.
“The support of AT&T has been critical for developing future police officers and deputy sheriffs for the mountain region,” Henninger said. “Many would not be able to attend without this scholarship assistance. I am proud of the partnership between CLETA and AT&T.”
Each AT&T grant recipient received $1,900 to complete the academy’s basic law enforcement program, which is the only one of its kind within CMC’s 12,000-square-mile service area. The cost for in-district students to complete the 16-week, 612-hour training is approximately $4,300, appreciably less than other academies in the state.
Even during this first semester of the scholarship, AT&T CLETA graduates are already in demand. For example, Spencer O’Hara has a position with the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office, while Eric Vargas and Paul Lazo are working with the Carbondale Police Department. Tanner Manning has joined the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, and Ryan Chan was hired by the Cañon City Police Department.
“They were all hired during this semester,” said Stu Curry, CLETA program director.