LAYTON — Graduates of Weber State University’s Police Academy are well aware they’ve selected a career that can make them targets.

A group of 23 cadets graduated Jan. 7 in a ceremony for the Utah Law Enforcement Academy held at Weber State’s Davis campus at 2750 University Park Blvd. in Layton, where speakers stressed the need for officers to protect their reputations by always serving with honor, and their lives by always wearing a ballistic vest.

Jeremy Cleek, selected to speak for his fellow cadets, said the public expects a lot from law enforcement officers.

“We expect a lot from ourselves,” said Cleek, of Kaysville. “However, in today’s social and political climate, law enforcement throughout the nation has drawn fire and criticism.”

A few officers’ failure to honor the code of ethics has brought dishonor upon all law enforcement, he said, along with distrust and increased scrutiny.

“This is certainly a unique time to enter into this career,” Cleek said.

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Jack B. Rickards, director of the academy, said he’s proud of the men and women choosing to become law enforcement officers during this time of increased negativity.

“It really shows that they want to be in the profession, because there are a lot of people that are saying ‘No, I don’t want to do that’ because of the actions of a few — which need to be dealt with — so I really admire them,” he said.

Rickards said numbers are down at police academies across the country. Weber’s academy doesn’t track the race or ethnicity of cadets, but of the 23 graduates, three were female. Most were from Weber and Davis counties, but a few came from Box Elder, Cache and Utah counties. 

Almost half of the cadets were hired, or in the process of being hired, by the time they graduated. There’s reason to believe that most, if not all of them, will find jobs. 

“We seem to be having a lot of interest in our cadets from outside the state,” Rickards said, listing Arizona, Wyoming and Alaska among the states recruiting at WSU. “There are good reasons to stay in Utah, the way of life and cost of living, so most of them will stay.”

Several cadets participated in the ceremony in uniforms signifying a relationship with the Ogden Police Department or the Weber County Sheriff’s Office.

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Christopher Stringfellow, a Roy resident, is hoping for a law enforcement job in Utah.

“I’ve always had a great admiration and respect for law enforcement,” he said. “Growing up as a child I was surely influenced by my grandfather, who was a deputy sheriff for a portion of his career, and I just want to follow in his footsteps.”

Stringfellow says a department’s pay scale isn’t a factor in his job search.

“The pay, for me, doesn’t really matter,” he said. “It’s really the line of work and the satisfaction you get from doing the job.”

• RELATED: Ogden police see big jump in paychecks
  

Ryan Blind of Farr West said he’s not in it for the money, either.

“It’s just something I’ve always wanted to do, ever since I was little — I was always playing cops and robbers when I was a kid,” he said.

Blind realizes he’ll be subject to public scrutiny, but isn’t discouraged.

“I just want to get out there and make a difference, and help serve my community regardless of their views on law enforcement,” he said.

Several recruits said they were well-trained by academy staff, and are prepared to face the challenges ahead.

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Speakers at the ceremony stressed the need for actions that will raise public trust in police officers.

“The truth is, by choosing this career we are accepting a higher moral code. A life of selflessness,” Cleek said. “It’s a higher way of thinking and acting in every aspect of our life.”

He quoted the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics, which they had all sworn to uphold earlier in the program, which includes the promises: “I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all; maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn, or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others,” and “I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of the police service.”

The keynote speaker was Lt. Paul Kotter, who serves with the Utah Highway Patrol and as an instructor with the academy. He spoke about being shot in the line of duty in August 2015.

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Kotter told the graduates he had picked up an extra shift watching over a construction zone in Layton. Because he was going to be sitting in his patrol car for most of the time, and it was considered easy work, he considered not wearing his uncomfortable ballistic vest.

Looking into his closet as he dressed for work that day, Kotter said it was as if his vest was screaming, “Dude, you’ve got to wear me tonight,” he said. He did wear it, honoring his commitment to safety.

Kotter was shot multiple times that shift when he tried to question a driver who pulled into the construction site.

“My family crossed my mind — I had a date with my wife the next day,” he said, remembering his thoughts during the incident. “I said, ‘This individual is not going to take me away from family. He is not going to take me away from my wife.'”

He continued to fight and the vest, which Kotter called his “partner,” took two bullets for him. He urged cadets to always wear their vests, use seat belts and watch their speed.

“Make family your priority,” he said. “Return to them at the end of every shift.”

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Rickards also asked cadets to remember their families and not take hard days out on them. 

“If I can, I’d like to ask both sides to have patience,” he said, reminding families that officers often deal with the worst situations.

“People don’t call the police when they’re having a great day — they call the police when things aren’t going well,” he said.

Finally, he asked the future officers not to let the bad parts of the job color their opinion of people.

“Remember that not everyone you deal with has done something wrong,” Rickards said. “You’re there first and foremost to perform service … remember that, and I guarantee you will have a full and rewarding career.”

You can reach reporter Becky Wright at bwright@standard.net or at 801-625-4274. Follow her on Twitter at @ReporterBWright or like her on Facebook.