Cheney native Vern R. Sanderson joins Washington State Patrol

CHENEY - Cheney native Vern R. Sanderson was among 28 graduates to complete the rigorous Washington State Patrol Academy program on June 30. Sanderson was awarded an officer commission card from Chief John Batiste at a ceremony held at the Academy headquarters in Shelton, WA and will soon join the Forks detachment at the base of the Olympic Mountains.

"The 28 cadets graduating today endured a rigorous application process, extensive background investigation, and received the best training, unmatched anywhere else in the nation," said Chief Batiste in a recent press release. "Today, they will join the ranks of Washington's finest, as troopers in the Washington State Patrol."

The program spans six months and is broken into various sessions aimed at developing mission related skills critical to upholding the law. Cadets are monitored and graded on efficiency in control tactics, driving, collision investigation, firearms, physical fitness, and many other associated capabilities. The 1,400-hour training marathon culminates with the "Troopers' Oath," before admittance is permitted to one of the "top rated police organizations in the nation."

Vernon Sanderson is among the 114th Trooper Basic Training Class that began on Nov. 30, 2020. The Washington State Patrol commenced operation on Sept. 1, 1921, to enforce motor traffic laws, but soon developed into a mobile police entity with a broader spectrum of duties across the state. The Washington State Patrol Academy opened its doors in 1947 within the confines of an old Navy barracks near the Shelton Airport and has since blossomed into a modern training facility.

Scott Davis can be reached at [email protected].