NEWS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Quinlan, Communications Manager
Email: david.quinlan@cjtc.wa.gov
WSCJTC CELEBRATES FIRST GRADUATING CLASS AT NORTHWEST REGIONAL CAMPUS IN ARLINGTON
ARLINGTON, Wash. – July 23, 2025 – The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) will celebrate the graduation of Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) Class 915—the first class to complete training at the agency’s new Northwest Regional Campus in Arlington—on Tuesday, July 29, at 10 a.m. The ceremony will be held at the Byrnes Performing Arts Center, located at 18821 Crown Ridge Blvd., Arlington, WA 98223.
This historic milestone follows the March 2025 opening of WSCJTC’s Arlington campus, part of the Commission’s regional academy model to expand training access and strengthen local law enforcement recruitment across Washington state.
“Our Northwest Regional Campus is a game-changer in the way we train peace officers in Washington,” said WSCJTC Executive Director Monica Alexander. “This graduation represents more than the end of an academy—it represents the start of stronger community-based policing rooted in local training, support, and service.”
The Arlington facility, which offers immersive virtual reality training, modular simulation houses, and vehicle scenario space, enables new recruits to complete their required 720-hour basic training closer to home. It was designed to remove barriers for those unable to relocate to WSCJTC’s main campus in Burien.
BLEA Class 915 includes recruits from agencies across the North Sound region, including Snohomish and Skagit counties. The class began training earlier this year and completed comprehensive coursework in patrol procedures, de-escalation, defensive tactics, criminal law, and community engagement.
The graduation ceremony is open to the public. Media are invited to attend and should RSVP to Communications Manager David Quinlan at david.quinlan@cjtc.wa.gov.
About WSCJTC: Established in 1974, the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission provides training to law enforcement, corrections officers, and other public safety professionals. Its mission is to establish certification and training standards that ensure criminal justice professionals in Washington state have the knowledge and skills to safeguard the communities they serve. Learn more at www.cjtc.wa.gov.