Ceres Police Sgt. Trenton Johnson and Modesto Police Sgt. Kalani Souza formally graduated last week from the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute after a yearlong course of study. The course was held in Anaheim where both sergeants attended class for one week per month. 

Sgt. Souza started his law enforcement career as Ceres Police Explorer cadet.

The Institute offers a program designed to stimulate personal growth, leadership, and ethical decision-making in California law enforcement front-line supervisors. Designed and implemented in 1988 through the efforts of California law enforcement professionals and top educators and trainers, the intense program is based on experiential learning techniques. Students are challenged to learn new ways to resolve issues through group and individual work.

The curriculum takes students through an analysis of management such as planning, organizing and directing; and leadership by inspiring, challenging and developing, and how each discipline compliments the other. The course progresses students from self-evaluation, to interpersonal evaluation, to organizational relationships. 

Graduates have the ability to earn college credit upon completion of the program through California State Long Beach.

Sgt. Johnson joins several other current and past leaders of the Ceres Police Department who have completed this course, including Chief Rick Collins, Captain Patrick Crane, Lt. Chris Perry, and Sgt. Keith Griebel. Sgt. Kalani Souza joins several leaders in the Modesto Police Department who have completed this prestigious course as well.

Attending the completion ceremony to support Johnson and Souza were

Ceres Police Chief Rick Collins, Lt. Chris Perry and Sgt. Greg Yotsuya. Rick Armendariz, the former Modesto Police Assistant Chief and currently the Anaheim Police Assistant Chief, also attended. Armendariz and Souza both started their careers in law enforcement as Ceres Police Explorer cadets.