CMC Breckenridge to graduate nine law enforcement cadets July 6

BRECKENRIDGE — Where do local police officers and sheriff's deputies learn the skills and gain the eligibility they need to serve Summit County and other mountain communities?

For many mountain law enforcement agencies, Colorado Mountain College’s Colorado Law Enforcement Training Academy at the Spring Valley and Breckenridge campuses provide the closest opportunity to train new officers without sending recruits to the Front Range.

Nine cadets from police departments and sheriff's offices across Colorado's mountain communities will graduate from Colorado Mountain College Breckenridge's Colorado Law Enforcement Training Academy on July 6.

The commencement ceremony begins at 1 p.m. in Finkel Auditorium at CMC Breckenridge.

Cadets from Breckenridge, Summit County, Frisco, Vail, Leadville and Hayden

The graduating class includes cadets sponsored by the Breckenridge Police Department, Summit County Sheriff's Office, Frisco Police Department, Vail Police Department, Leadville Police Department and Hayden Police Department. Upon graduation, cadets will begin serving these communities throughout the region.

The academy prepares future law enforcement professionals through an intensive 16-week training program that combines classroom instruction with hands-on experience in criminal law, patrol procedures, investigations, emergency vehicle operations, defensive tactics, firearms proficiency, ethics and community policing.

The July 6 ceremony will recognize graduates' accomplishments and honor outstanding cadets in several categories, including leadership, academics, firearms proficiency, defensive tactics and emergency vehicle operations.

Breckenridge Chief of Police Dawn Layman to speak

The commencement speaker will be Dawn Layman, a nationally recognized law enforcement leader and the chief of the Breckenridge Police Department. Layman holds an MBA from the University of Kansas and a bachelor’s in criminal justice from West Chester University. After a distinguished 32-year career with the Lenexa, Kansas Police Department, she retired in December 2025 and was appointed chief of police for the town of Breckenridge.

CMC’s Colorado Law Enforcement Training Academy has trained law enforcement officers for mountain and rural communities for more than three decades. The academy works closely with local agencies to prepare recruits for the unique challenges of policing in resort, rural and mountain environments.

The public is welcome to attend.

CLETA commencement ceremony

What: Colorado Law Enforcement Training Academy graduation
When: Monday, July 6, 2026, at 1 p.m.
Where: Finkel Auditorium, Colorado Mountain College Breckenridge, 107 Denison Placer Road, Breckenridge
Speaker: Dawn Layman, chief, Breckenridge Police Department