Lamm graduates from Law Enforcement Academy
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JUSTIN LAMM
EAU CLAIRE – After graduating from Chippewa Valley Technical College’s Law Enforcement Academy Tuesday, Dec. 15, Justin Lamm, 27, reflected on the first spark that led him toward a career in law enforcement and public service. He was five years old at the time.
“In 1998, we had a house fire caused by a drier,” said the 2012 Boyceville High School graduate. “One of the first people who responded was with the Menomonie Police Department. I was unconscious on the ground. He wrapped me in a blanket and made sure I was breathing until paramedics got there.”
Inspiration to serve others is a common reason for people to enter law enforcement and other emergency service professions. It was no different for the 13 Academy graduates who received their certificates qualifying them to serve as law enforcement officers in Wisconsin. At the virtual graduation ceremony, the graduates were present, as they had just finished their final examinations, but were masked and socially distanced while family and friends watched the event through computers.
Among the graduateswas Abigail Wood of Eau Claire, who was recently hired by the Menomonie Police Department.
Being a law enforcement officer in Wisconsin takes a great deal of training. A minimum of 60 college credits are required to enroll in the Academy. Many go through CVTC’s two-year Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement program, or through a university or other technical college.
Academy Director Eric Anderson said the 720-hour academy over 20 weeks instructs the recruits in six areas: policing in America, tactical skills, patrol procedures, legal context, relational skills and investigations. Completion of training at an Academy is required to become certified; however, officers can start some work with a department before completing the training.
“I’m really appreciative for the opportunity to work for the Menomonie Police Department,” said Wood, 24, who had just been hired the week before the graduation. “I start Jan. 2, and I’ll be doing the field training program for four months.”
Wood was selected by her peers as one of two squad leaders, a position of greater responsibility in the class.
Mathew Berg, 20, of Lake Hallie, a 2018 Chippewa Falls Senior High School graduate, credits a Chippewa Falls Police Department officer with inspiring him to pursue the career.
“I had a great role model in Officer Joe Nelson, the school resource officer,” Berg said. “I liked how great he was talking with people and how professional he was.”
Berg said he has an application out at the Ellsworth Police Department for what might be his first job in the profession.
Rob Teuteberg, a former officer with the Chippewa Falls Police Department and now an Academy and CVTC Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement instructor, was the featured speaker. He focused on sacrifice.
“These graduates had to sacrifice so much in their personal lives to accomplish this,” Teuteberg said. “They sacrificed on so many different levels, including physical sacrifices. Yet, I think overlooked is the sacrifice of the mind due to the weariness and the stress.”
Teuteberg noted that sacrifices would continue. “There is not a law enforcement officer in this country that has not missed a birthday or special family occasion, sometimes to go out and help someone.”
Anderson acknowledged that the class was much smaller than usual by about ten students.
“We were overshadowed by COVID and things going on in the world,” he said.
Anderson took time to thank several people, including the public that passed CVTC’s $48.8 million referendum last spring. Because of that, he said, there will be improvements made at the Emergency Services Education Center that will allow them to bring in house training locations they have previously had to find off campus.