The 24th graduating class of the Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commission Academy in Sykesville included nine officers from Carroll County, according to a county sheriff's press release.

Ceremonies were held on Friday in the auditorium at Century High in Eldersburg.

Among the graduating class were nine Carroll County Deputy Sheriff candidates:

• John Patrick Buenger, Jr., 29, nominated as class president by his peers
• Thomas Vanik, age 26, graduation speaker, recognized with the Lee Goldman Academic Achievement Award
• Douglas Kriete, 23, recognized with the Top Driver Award
• Christopher Green, 23
• Reuben Gill, 25  
• Matthew Koslosky, 23
• Kyle Merson, 23,
• Ashley Owens, 29
• Samuel Winer, 22

The day signifies the end of a 26-week training program, or 952 hours of studying things like criminal law, defense tactics and traffic collision investigations, according to the release.

"A full service accredited law enforcement agency, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office and its deputies, like all Maryland Police Departments, are bound by State Law to meet the training requirements and standards for police as established by the Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commission," the release states.

"Through the commission’s efforts, Maryland became the 6^th state in the nation to establish and mandate statewide compliance with minimum standards for the selection, training and certification of all police officers. 

"Today, the Maryland Police Training Commission continues this mission through the application, maintenance and oversight of teaching 789 training and certification standards to all Maryland law enforcement officers."  

Next, the deputy sheriff recruits will shadow an experienced deputy sheriff for 10 weeks of field training, according to the release.

This information was provided in a Carroll County Sheriff's Office press release.