MERIDIAN - Police are used to putting their lives on the line, but local police say the recent deaths have made them more aware.

That includes the 31 men and women that graduated from the state's POST Friday, becoming Idaho's newest officers.

“They're excited, exhausted and ready to go home. But this is what they've been gearing up for for 10 weeks,” said Kerry LaFranboise, a training specialist.

Friday's graduates come from 20 different agencies from across the state. They're all trained, all ready to do their part to serve and protect. But are they prepared?

“I don't know there's a standard that, 'Okay, you're ready. You can go,'" LaFranboise said. “But we've given them awareness, some basic instruction and they're ready for the next level of training if you will."

The trainer says it's their job at POST to make sure graduates know that once they leave the classroom, they're moving into the cross hairs.

Earlier this week a different kind of ceremony honored the lives of four Washington police officers, killed in Lakewood. Thursday authorities revealed a plot to kill the police chief in Homedale.

Jason Dennett, president of Friday's graduating POST class, says the murders and threats doesn't rattle his confidence but will make him more aware.

“It's something to increase our vigilance in the community, stay alert,” Dennet said.

Lafranboise says it's tough to maintain that high level of alertness required to protect the community and themselves. He hopes people will be understanding with officers just trying to do their job.

“They could pull you over and you were speeding and just didn't realize you were doing it,” LaFranboise said. “Or they could be dealing with somebody like the guy from Lakewood. So if they're a little cold, a little distant, there's a reason for that. It's nothing personal. Cut them a little bit of slack."