After months of academy training away from home, two Cortez police officers took the oath Tuesday morning, officially joining the department in a City Hall swearing-in ceremony.
Fifteen fellow officers and department staff filled the City Hall courtroom, joined by friends and family, to watch officers Steven Lopez and Kilton Korthank take the oath. The swearing-in was led by court administrator Carla Odell.
Both officers recently completed the 18-week law enforcement academy in Pueblo after plans to attend a local academy in Mancos fell through because the program did not offer a fall semester. The Cortez Police Department sponsored both cadets, who trained in Pueblo since August.
For Lopez, the ceremony marked a major personal milestone after years of service away from home. A military veteran with about seven and a half years of service, Lopez said he was motivated by a desire to serve and give back to the community.
“It’s a big milestone in my life. I’m very proud of it,” Lopez said. “I’m thankful for all those who helped me get to where I’m at today. It’s a very proud day.”
Lopez said he was eager to settle into Cortez after months of training, military service and living in several states, including Alaska, Tennessee and Texas. He said his connection to the area began during childhood trips to Pleasant View, where he spent time hunting, hiking and fishing.
“There’s something about this place that drew me back,” Lopez said. “I’m excited to call this place home.”
Korthank said the swearing-in carried an added layer of significance as he joins his twin brother, Officer Kiernan Korthank, sworn in during a July ceremony. The department now has two sets of brothers serving simultaneously, including siblings Koby and Koltan Guttridge.
“We’ve always done everything together,” Korthank said of his twin brother. “We worked the same jobs, went to school together – just everything. To be able to come here and do this and still be able to work with my brother, is like dream come true.”
As kids, Korthank said he and his brother talked about becoming police officers from a young age. Early perceptions of law enforcement were mixed in his family, but his experiences as he grew older changed that view. He said kindness and giving back to others are central to who he is, and law enforcement allows him to make that a priority.
“I had it on my mind for a long time. We were always taught that cops are bad, right? But I grew up and through multiple experiences, I saw that's not the case,” Korthank said.
He said academy training, such as officer survival coursework, underscores the seriousness of day-to-day police work.
Transitioning from trainee to sworn officer, he said, “is a little nerve-wracking” but also exciting.
“There's a lot of stuff to get comfortable with,” Korthank said. “I was in a routine the last four months and now I'm ready to get into an actual position here. Kindness is my No. 1 priority. It’s just an everyday goal.”
