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MERIDIAN-NAMPA
JOINT PATROL ACADEMY
In the State of Idaho, all Police Officers must complete or challenge the POST Basic Patrol Officer Certification course within 1 year of being hired with a law enforcement agency. In 2019, the Meridian Police Department and Nampa Police Department collaborated to conduct the first Meridian-Nampa Joint Patrol Academy at the Public Safety Training Center in Meridian. Conducting a Joint Patrol Academy allows both agencies to structure the training cycle to align with both departments' cultures and policies; while also ensuring new officers learn the necessary skills and knowledge it takes to become a certified Police Officer in the State of Idaho.
ENTRY LEVEL OFFICERS
At the Meridian Police Department, all new officers are required to attend the Joint Patrol Academy. Entry level officers will attend a full 18-week academy.
The Meridian-Nampa Joint Patrol Academy is conducted with a focus on training, and is not conducted as a military style, stress-discipline academy. During the academy, new officers will spend time in the classroom learning about criminal law and department policy, receive firearms and less than lethal weapons system training, defensive tactics skills, participate in physical training, and be evaluated on their application of learned material through written examinations and reality-based scenarios.
LATERAL OFFICERS
A lateral patrol officer may go through a 6-week, onboarding training, which will also assess their patrol abilities to either go to Field Training, or to the 18-week academy (depending on experience and abilities).
MEET THE TRAINING STAFF
Sergeant
Jon Salisbury
Sergeant Salisbury joined the Meridian Police Department in 2009 following over a decade of service as a USAF EOD Technician. His departmental career includes roles as a Patrol Officer, an FBI Violent Crime Task Force Officer, and an Impact Team Detective, alongside leading the Special Tactics Group’s Explosive Breacher Team. He is an instructor in multiple disciplines, including, Building Search, Active Shooter, Tactical Teams, and Explosive Breaching. Promoted to Corporal in 2021, he returned to the Impact Team after a tour in Patrol. In 2026, he was promoted to Sergeant and currently serves in the Training Division, overseeing the Joint Patrol Academy, Lateral Advanced Training and CSO Academy.
Corporal
Kevin Kinnaman
Corporal Kinnaman joined the Meridian Police Department in 2011 after 3 years with the El Paso Police Department. He worked as a Patrol Officer, Swat member and Impact team Detective. In 2021 Corporal Kinnaman was promoted and worked as a Corporal for the Impact team, Patrol and the Training Division. Corporal Kinnaman is an academy coordinator and instructs Firearm and Less Lethal courses in the academy and in service training.
Training Officer
Tavi Messenger
Training Officer
Ashley Horvath
Officer Horvath joined the Meridian Police Department in 2017 after 4 ½ years with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Since joining the department, she has worked as a Patrol Officer, School Resource Officer, Crisis Intervention Officer, and Meridian Police Department Instructor. Her passion for training and development helped her to be selected as a Training Officer for the Meridian-Nampa Joint Patrol Academy in January 2024. Officer Horvath also serves as a member of the department’s Recruiting Team.
Officer Messenger joined the Meridian Police Department in 2016 with 2 years of prior law enforcement experience with the Twin Falls Police Department. Officer Messenger worked as a Patrol Officer and was later selected to be a Field Training Officer and Meridian Police Department Instructor. He has a passion and aptitude for raising up the next generation of officers which made for a seamless transition to the Meridian-Nampa Joint Patrol Academy as a Training Officer in September of 2021. Officer Messenger also serves on the Recruiting Team searching for quality individuals with a desire to serve in the Meridian community.
CONTACT
US
(208) 888-6678
PDRECRUITING@MERIDIANCITY.ORG
VISIT
US
1401 EAST WATERTOWER STREET
MERIDIAN, IDAHO 83642
MONDAY-FRIDAY: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM