Winnfield recruit officer Edward Starks III graduated from the Alexandria Regional Police Academy November 14 after 16 weeks of training to become a Post Certified Police Officer. Starks was hired by the Winnfield Police Department at the city council meeting on August 16, 2023. He started the police academy on July 28 of this year.
During his time at the academy, Starks was training in basic policing which includes the topics of Criminal Law, Criminal Code of Procedures, defensive tactics, emergency management, hazardous materials handling, basic first aid, hostage negotiation techniques, tactical police driving, Crisis Team Intervention, and rigorous physical fitness training. Specialized training included DWI and Drug Impairment Driving, Intoxilizer 9000 operator certification, spike strip usage, certification in less-lethal weapons such as chemical and Taser®, traffic enforcement and crash investigations, and many hours of weapons training on their duty pistols, patrol rifles and shotguns.
The Alexandria Regional Training Academy is a division of the Alexandria Police Department that utilizes specially trained Instructors, normally considered experts in their areas, from the different aspects of law enforcement, from APD certified instructors, physical fitness trainers, P.O.S.T. certified weapons instructors, defensive tactics instructors, as well as outside sources that include Judges, lawyers, state and federal agents and guest instructors.
With completing the academy, the cadets are classified as P.O.S.T. certified Police Officers and will continue with field training with their respective departments. They are also awarded 15 hours of college credits towards degrees offered at LSU-A in Alexandria.
The department reported that Edward Starks III was also awarded the Jeremy Carruth Memorial Physical Fitness Award for maintaining the highest physical fitness standards through the academy.
Graduation ceremony was attended by his family and his supervisors from the Winnfield Police Department who congratulated Trey on his accomplishments and look forward to working with him.