LATC Law Enforcement

08/12/2026

Congratulations Wyatt on being sworn in and starting your career with the Lake Norden Police Department!

06/18/2026

Congratulations to Trooper Paige Zempel (Class of 2018) on being named the 2025 South Dakota Trooper of the Year and Officer Alexis Buysse (Class of 2016) on being named the 2025 South Dakota Police Officer of the Year.

To have two Lake Area Tech graduates earn South Dakota's highest law enforcement honors in the same year is a testament to their dedication, professionalism, and commitment to serving their communities. We are proud to call them Lake Area Tech alumni!

https://www.lakeareatech.edu/two-lake-area-technical-college-graduates-earn-south-dakotas-highest-law-enforcement-honors/?fbclid=IwdGRjcASg_-ljbGNrBKD_1GV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHmmYEzoQYbC-7ibxXOBmgQQY_MhwKI1kI5hXdVYFRsHuZkY9JRLHQjWcXvyg_aem_3Li2UIURUvxKR8OMJzI07g

June 4, 2026 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WATERTOWN, S.D. — Lake Area Technical College’s Law Enforcement program is celebrating an extraordinary achievement as two graduates have been recognized with South Dakota’s highest honors in law enforcement […]

06/11/2026

Had a great time partnering with the Watertown Police Department during their Youth Academy this week.

We were proud to support the academy by providing access to our driving simulator and helping participants work through realistic law enforcement scenarios.

Strong partnerships between local agencies and educational programs create valuable opportunities for young people to learn, grow, and explore future careers. Thanks to WPD for the partnership and to all of the students who made the week such a success!

06/05/2026

What an incredible week for Lake Area Technical College and our Law Enforcement program!

Please join us in congratulating Jacob Hoffmeister on winning the Gold Medal in the Criminal Justice Competition at the National SkillsUSA Championships in Atlanta, Georgia.

Jacob just completed his first year in our program and represented South Dakota on the national stage against the top competitors from across the country.

Throughout the competition, he demonstrated the knowledge, professionalism, and determination that have helped him succeed both in the classroom and beyond.

Watching Jacob grow over the past year and seeing his hard work pay off at the national level has been truly rewarding. This achievement is a reflection of the effort he puts in every day and the commitment he has made to his future in law enforcement.
Congratulations, Jacob!

05/26/2026

Congratulations John on starting your career with the Miller Police Department!

05/15/2026

Today, we had the honor of recognizing several outstanding members of the LATC Law Enforcement Class of 2026 with our program’s annual leadership and excellence awards — a tradition that began in 2025 to recognize the students who truly set the standard within the program.

These awards represent leadership, dedication, professionalism, teamwork, and excellence both inside and outside the classroom.

🏆 Honor in Action Award – Tristian Bradwisch

The Honor in Action Award recognizes a student who exemplifies the characteristics of a true law enforcement leader. This individual leads through positive influence, responsibility, teamwork, ethical behavior, and a commitment to excellence. They motivate those around them, serve as a role model, and consistently put the success of the team ahead of themselves.
Tristian demonstrated these qualities throughout his time here by leading through action, maintaining a positive attitude, supporting classmates, and setting a high standard in all aspects of training.

🏆 Peer Excellence & Inspiration Award – Ian Heinrich

This award is selected by classmates and represents the student who most embodies the spirit of leadership, loyalty, teamwork, and encouragement within the program. It reflects the respect earned from fellow students through consistent professionalism, positivity, and selflessness.
Ian earned the respect of his peers by always being dependable, supportive, team-oriented, and willing to help others succeed. Being recognized by classmates makes this award especially meaningful.

🏆 Top Gun Award – Brandon Fieber

The Top Gun Award is presented to the student who demonstrates the highest proficiency in fi****ms training and qualification. It recognizes exceptional accuracy, skill, focus, and performance during the qualifying course of fire.
Brandon distinguished himself through outstanding fi****ms proficiency and consistent performance on the range, earning the title of Top Gun for the Class of 2026.

Congratulations to all three award recipients, and all graduates of the Class of 2026!

05/13/2026

History repeated itself today during the 2nd Annual Fitness Class Random Draw Pickleball Tournament as Cason and Jacia officially cemented themselves as a pickleball dynasty by going BACK-TO-BACK as tournament champions.
In the championship matchup, Cason and Jacia faced off against Kolten and Colton in what was advertised as a competitive finals match… but in reality, it was never really close.
The loudest smack talk of the day actually came from the losers on the sidelines, who spent most of the championship match providing running commentary, unnecessary coaching advice, and emotional support for Kolten and Colton as the score slowly drifted further and further out of reach.
To their credit, Kolten and Colton kept battling despite once again showing clear symptoms of their ongoing allergy to becoming champions. Side effects included missed returns, emergency lobs, nervous laughter, and staring at each other after points trying to determine whose fault it was.
Meanwhile, Cason and Jacia looked calm, confident, and completely unbothered while cruising through the finals like seasoned professionals who had absolutely no intention of giving up their crown.
After another year of chaos, questionable athleticism, accidental body shots, and enough competitive energy to make ESPN ignore us again, the tournament officially came to an end with Cason and Jacia retiring as undefeated back-to-back champions.
That means next year officially opens the door for a new champion…

05/04/2026

A few of our first-year law enforcement students—Jacob, Seth, Eleanor, Libby, and Ashley—stepped up (and into some heels 👠) at the Walk A Mile in Her Shoes event hosted by the Beacon Center.

Let’s just say… walking a straight line suddenly got a whole lot more challenging.

In all seriousness, we’re proud of these students for getting involved, supporting an important cause, and gaining perspective outside the classroom. Events like this help build not just better officers—but better people.

Well done!

04/24/2026

Yesterday brought a lot of energy and activity to our program, but today was a reminder of something every officer learns quickly. The job does not pause just because one shift was busy.

Today, our second year law enforcement students saw that reality firsthand as they transitioned from scenario-based work into the courtroom on an entirely separate case. It was a powerful example of how policing carries forward beyond the initial call, often into detailed legal proceedings that demand the same level of professionalism and preparation.

With the guidance and support of Judge Dawn Elshere, Codington County States Attorney Alison Bakken, and Turbak Law's Attorney Liam Culhane and Nic Ahmann, a couple of our students had the opportunity to experience live testimony and cross examination.

Seeing the process unfold in real time reinforced the importance of clear communication, thorough investigations, and credibility on the stand.

Policing is not just about what happens in the moment. It is about what follows, sometimes days, weeks, months, or even years later. Today was a valuable reminder that every report, every decision, and every detail matters.

04/23/2026

What does a career in law enforcement really look like? It is not just one path. It is a profession built on coordination, communication, and the ability to work alongside many different disciplines when it matters most.