MIDDLESBORO — Middlesboro’s newest police officer, Justin A. Barton, graduated on Friday, from basic training at the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training, in Richmond. Barton was one of 26 officers from 15 agencies, in Class 394 to complete 18 weeks of training.

“He will be a good employee and we look forward to having him on the force,” Sgt. Mike Hensley, who was present when Barton graduated, said. Sgt. Hensley stated that Barton will begin his duties next week for the City of Middlesboro.

Major training areas of study and practice included homeland security, law offenses and procedures, vehicle operations, firearms, investigations, first aid/CPR, patrol procedures, orientation for new law enforcement families, and mechanics of arrest, restraint and control.

The Department of Criminal Justice Training is a state agency located on Eastern Kentucky University’s campus. The agency is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies and was the first in the nation to be accredited under CALEA’s public safety training program designation. In 2006, the academy also became the first law enforcement training academy in the nation to be named as a CALEA flagship agency.

C.J. Harte is a Correspondent for the Daily News. He can be reached via e-mail at charte@middlesborodailynews.com.