Three new officers joined the Bellingham Police Department this week after graduating from the Basic Law Enforcement Academy and being sworn in by Bellingham Municipal Court Judge Henery. Officers K. Wubben (Badge #388), M. Buckmaster (Badge #389), and J. Sturgeon (Badge #386) completed the rigorous training program, with all three finishing in the top spots of their graduating class.
The Basic Law Enforcement Academy, operated by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, is a mandatory prerequisite for all new law enforcement officers in the state. The multi-month program covers criminal law, defensive tactics, firearms, emergency vehicle operations, crisis intervention, and a wide range of patrol and investigative procedures. Candidates must pass physical fitness standards, written examinations, and practical skills demonstrations throughout the program to earn certification.
Officer K. Wubben earned top honors in the graduating class, a distinction that earned him particular recognition from BPD. Wubben is what the department calls a "legacy officer" -- his father, Officer D. Wubben (Badge #244), is a current member of the Bellingham Police Department. Second-generation officers are relatively uncommon in any police agency, and the fact that the younger Wubben also graduated at the top of his academy class adds a notable chapter to the family's connection to the department and the community it serves.
The three officers join BPD at a time when the department, like many agencies across Washington, has been working to rebuild staffing levels following a difficult recruitment and retention environment that characterized much of the early 2020s. Policing agencies across the state have worked to address the gap through improved compensation, expanded recruitment pipelines, and clearer career development pathways. Graduating classes that produce multiple high-finishing candidates -- as this one did -- are a meaningful sign of program quality and applicant preparation.
Officers Buckmaster and Sturgeon also finished in the top three of the academy, indicating that all three new BPD hires were among the strongest candidates in their class. The combination of strong academy performance and placement at a department with BPD's training culture suggests the agency will have capable new officers contributing to patrol operations in the months ahead.
Newly sworn officers typically complete a field training program alongside an experienced officer before taking on solo patrol assignments. That period allows them to apply their academy training in real-world situations under supervision, reinforcing both technical skills and judgment developed during training.
Community members interested in law enforcement careers or those who want to learn more about what BPD looks for in recruits can find information at the City of Bellingham police services page. For news on how Bellingham is developing programs alongside policing -- including public safety education and youth programs -- see the Bellingham Public Library's summer reading program, which builds early literacy habits that researchers connect to long-term community outcomes.
Congratulations to Officers Wubben, Buckmaster, and Sturgeon on their graduation, and welcome to the Bellingham community they will now serve.
