Two new officers join Sterling Police Department after academy graduation

Carley Swanson and Traver Miller have joined the Sterling Police Department after graduating from Otero College’s Law Enforcement Training Academy, adding two new names to a roster that city officials say already runs with 23 sworn officers and 6 civilian employees.

The new officers will not be on solo patrol right away. Both Swanson and Miller must complete a 16-week Field Training Officer program before they can work independently, a step that matters for day-to-day coverage in Sterling, where the department operates 24/7 through its Operations and Support Services divisions.

For residents, the immediate impact is less about a dramatic change and more about capacity. Two additional officers can help the department spread shifts more evenly, support response times and ease pressure on a force that serves Sterling, the largest city in northeastern Colorado. Until field training is finished, though, the new hires will be learning local procedures, patrol expectations and response routines under supervision.

Their arrival also fits a broader staffing push that has shaped policing in Colorado. Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training, or Colorado POST, handles certification and training for active and reserve peace officers in the state. At the same time, state leaders have backed recruitment and retention efforts through the Law Enforcement Workforce Retention, Recruitment and Tuition Grant Program and through Proposition 130, approved by voters in November 2024, which requires $350 million in additional funding for local law enforcement recruitment, training and retention.

Otero College listed a Law Enforcement Training Academy graduation for May 12, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Student Center’s Rizzuto Banquet Room, marking the end of the academy stage for the new officers before their move into field training and, eventually, solo service in Sterling.

As the department continues to recruit and retain officers, the additions of Swanson and Miller give Sterling a small but practical boost in a city where staffing levels can shape how quickly help arrives and how fully the department can cover patrol needs across Logan County.