Adelanto Resident and Encore High School Alum Joshua Elliott Sworn In as CHP Officer

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (VVNG.com) — Joshua Elliott of Adelanto is among California’s newest Highway Patrol officers after graduating from the CHP Academy in West Sacramento.

Elliott has been assigned to the CHP’s Barstow Area office and will begin duty on December 15.

A 2010 graduate of Encore High School, Elliott went on to earn an Associate of Arts degree in music from Victor Valley College. Before pursuing a career with the CHP, he served as a police officer in the United States Marine Corps.

During the graduation ceremony, Elliott was recognized for his firearms skills and awarded the title “Outstanding Marksman.” He thanked his wife and family for their unwavering support during the 26-week training program.

According to a written statement from the California Highway Patrol, the academy trains cadets in vehicle code enforcement, crash and criminal investigations, emergency vehicle operations, and officer safety.

The curriculum also emphasizes legal responsibilities, communication, ethics, and cultural awareness to equThe curriculum also emphasizes legal responsibilities, communication, ethics, and cultural awareness to equip officers to serve California’s diverse population.

Earlier this week, cadets completed a symbolic 5-mile run to mark the end of their training.

The 137 new officers who were sworn in during the ceremony will be placed in CHP offices across the state to protect and serve California’s communities. This marks a significant achievement for the department, which graduated 780 cadets in 2025 alone.

Since January 2022, the CHP has brought on more than 2,300 new officers. Recruitment efforts—boosted by the 2022 “Join the CHP 1000” campaign and the “Cadets” web series—have helped drive a 52% increase in applications from 2022 to 2024:

• 2022: 16,077 applications
• 2023: 19,590 applications
• 2024: 25,477 applications

The agency is on track to receive over 33,000 applications by the end of 2025 and continues to recruit highly qualified individuals seeking a career in public safety.

To learn more about becoming a CHP officer, visit CHPMadeForMore.com.

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