Face-to-Face Classes Resume for Kalamazoo Valley’s Police Academy, Applications Being Accepted for Fall Academy

Cadets from Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s 89th Police Officer Training Academy returned to campus this week to complete the last eight weeks of the training program that was suspended March 23 due to the Coronavirus. Cadets have been involved in remote and online learning since March 23. Instruction is allowed to continue according to the governor’s EO-2020-77 that allows those who are being licensed in law enforcement, firefighting and nursing to return for their licensing.

Applications for 90th Police Officer Training Academy, which will be offered in person from August 24 – December 15 at the school’s Law Enforcement Training Center, are being accepted through June 5.

“I would encourage anyone thinking about a career in law enforcement to contact us to learn more about our program,” said Victor Ledbetter, Director of Kalamazoo Valley’s Law Enforcement Training Center. “There is a real need to for training police officers in the state of Michigan.”

According to Ledbetter, graduates from the 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.

Specialized areas of instruction in the academy include:
• 34+ Hours of Scenario Training
• Water Safety
• Building Searches • Application and Interviewing Training
• K-9 Familiarization
• Weapons of Mass Destruction • Incident Response to Terrorist Bombing
• Pepper Spray Exposure
• Rapid Deployment
• Emergency Vehicle Operation
• Pistol, Shotgun and Patrol Rifle
• Diversity Training
For more information and an application, visit https://www.kvcc.edu/academics/police/ www.kvcc.edu/police or contact Ledbetter at vledbetter@kvcc.edu..