Police Academy to graduate 16th class of peace officers

Minden resident Jake Meddles will receive top gun honors at the Western Nevada State Peace Officer Academy during a ceremony 10 a.m. Aug. 13 at Western Nevada College's Carson City campus.

Meddles is one of 24 cadets to graduated from the academy. He will be honored for obtaining the highest scores in practical and written testing for the emergency vehicle operator course. He also earns the physical fitness award for performing at the top of his class in physical training exercises.

In addition to Meddles, Minden resident Joseph Welch and Gardnerville resident Matt Williams will graduate.

Capt. Frank Shyne of the Fallon Police Department will be the keynote speaker.

Graduates include:

Carson City - Cody Bindley, Brenden Collins, Mike Erwine, Travis Hughes, James LaChew, Shawn Thornhill, Alice Valdez

Dayton - Mike Gibson, Scott Wilde

Fallon - Dan Shyne

Fernley - Keith Killian, Joseph Welch

Mound House - Ryan Patterson

Reno - Jeremy Brown, Dave Edgington, Silverio Mendoza, John Morris, Phil Pascual

Sparks - Scott Kreber, Allan Lum

South Lake Tahoe - Dan Brown

Hughes graduates as top gun for achieving the highest practical and written test scores. LaChew is recognized as the most successful cadet in the sharp shooter competition, outlasting his peers in a series of complex time target shooting.

Mendoza receives the marksmanship award for firing all shots within a finite target area during qualifying tests.