BURIEN, Wash. -- The deadly ambush of two Seattle police officers has hit recruits at the local police academy hard.

The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission is mourning the death of Ofc. Timothy Brenton, who was killed in an ambush over weekend.

Recent academy graduate Ofc. Britt Sweeney was injured in the ambush, but she is expected to recover.

At the academy the flags have been lowered to half-staff, and the cadets' spirits somber. The officers in training are saddened by the tragedy that feels so close to home. Sweeney had graduated just 2½ months ago.

"I am saddened by the events that took place, but I am more motivated now to do exactly what I'm here to do, which is to serve and protect, sir," said Port Orchard Police Cadet Donna Main.

Main gave up a career in sales to become a cadet. Now, she and the others are following Sweeney's path -- 19 weeks of training.

"From everything we've heard, she's acted incredibly heroically," said Medina Police Cadet Amy Centers of Sweeney. "We go through a lot of very strenuous drills here, and I personally believe she was really prepared because of the training she received here."

Despite the deadly incident, no one has quit the academy, at least not yet.

"I would expect over the next couple of weeks, it would not surprise me to see somebody withdraw because it's not something their family is willing to accept at this point in time, the risk," said Asst. Comm. Sgt. Rich Phillips.

The instructors say the cadets can train for many different situations, but not an ambush. And each cadet is learning to live with that unexpected lesson as they get ready to hit the streets in less than three months.

The academy's staff and cadets are planning a ceremony in which they will put Brenton's name on the memorial wall dedicated to fallen soldiers.