Law enforcement training institutes in Mid-Missouri seeing increase in enrollment
Mid Missouri law enforcement training institutes are seeing an increase in enrollment for their August training session.
However, the academy says these numbers that they are seeing for August are still much lower than years past.
Adam Duncan, Assistant Academy Director of MU’s Law Enforcement Training Institute, told ABC 17 News a number of factors factor in to the reasoning behind the increase and decrease in numbers.
Duncan says over the past several years law enforcement recruiting has gotten tougher because of the recent events across our nation. However, the events have also brought more people wanting to get more involved in their community to make a difference.
“We tell them it’s not a safe profession, it’s a profession to help make the community safer,” Duncan says.
According to Dean Jo Fey, recruitment numbers in Moberly have also increased as well.
Duncan tells ABC 17 News that the cost to enroll in the law enforcement institute is $4,500 plus recruits have to purchase their own ammunition. That cost, at times, can push away people that can’t afford it.
Three training sessions are held at the Columbia location in January, May, and August for 15 weeks. Training is held 5 days a week, forty plus hours a week.
Duncan says in 2010, the academy saw a spike, and also after 9/11. But, within the last couple years, numbers have slowly dropped.
Recruiting efforts have increased across the state to target high school students, but due to budget restraints from MU, the institute wasn’t able to recruit as much as they would have liked too, which the academy says is part to blame for some of their enrollment numbers dropping.
Recent events are used as a training tool for new recruits to process things that were done right and wrong.
According to Duncan, there are no citizen police academies in Boone County, but Jefferson City Police does hold a program.
Beginning October 6 to December 12, the Jefferson City Police Academy will be accepting applications for citizens of Jefferson City to sign up to learn and understand what police officer does daily.
To obtain an application, you can contact the office at 573-634-6347 or visit www.jeffersoncitymo.gov
