Seats still Available for Kalamazoo Valley’s August Police Officer Training Academy

Interested in a career in law enforcement? There is still time to become part of Kalamazoo Valley’s next Police Officer Training Academy. The application deadline for the 90th academy has been extended through June 18. The August academy runs from August 24 – December 15 at the school’s Law Enforcement Training Center.

The Kalamazoo Valley Police Academy Training Academy is a 16 week, full-time program, typically scheduled Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. However, some training is scheduled on nights and weekends as needed. To be eligible to enter the academy, an applicant must possess an associate degree or higher or upon completion of the academy (34 hours awarded upon successful completion) must earn an associate degree when combined with previous college credits earned.

Candidates must pass the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) Pre-Enrollment Physical Fitness test as well as a reading and writing test.

The MCOLES website shows more than 100 agencies throughout the state hiring either part-time or full-time officers.

According to Director Victor Ledbetter, graduates from the Police Officer Training Academy enjoy the highest employment rate in the state. A total of 92 percent of alumni are employed in the field, compared to a statewide average of 69 percent. More than 2,400 men and women have graduated from Kalamazoo Valley’s Police Officer Training Academy in the program’s 48-year history (1972-2020).

“Kalamazoo Valley’s Police Officer Training Academy is recognized as one of the leading police training facilities in the region, consistently graduating high achievers,” Ledbetter said. “Anyone thinking about a rewarding career in law enforcement is encouraged to apply.”

The Law Enforcement Training Center is located at 7107 Elm Valley Drive on the Groves Campus of Kalamazoo Valley Community College. For an application packet or for more information, visit www.kvcc.edu/police. For more information, contact Ledbetter at vledbetter@kvcc.edu, Executive Officer Jessica Brinks at jbrinks@kvcc.edu or Program Coordinator Kenyatta Herrion at kherrion@kvcc.edu.