KSU at Trumbull Offers Police Academy Experience to High School Seniors
WARREN, Ohio — Kent State University at Trumbull is offering the Youth Police Academy Experience to high school seniors this fall and spring of 2024.
The new program is designed for students interested in pursuing careers in the justice field.
Students who complete this program are each eligible to receive a $1,000 scholarship to attend Kent State Trumbull in the fall of 2024.
Lecturer Lori Singer-Bare of the Criminology and Justice Studies program and the Peace Officer Training Academy hopes local students will take advantage of the program to explore diverse career opportunities in the justice system.
“We carefully put together this program to give students a well-rounded experience,” she said. “Our campus is fortunate to have access to great instructors with valuable years of experience.”
Due to staffing shortages across the state, Singer-Bare said it is vital that police academies be more intentional when recruiting new learners.
“Public safety is a concern for everyone,” she said. “This is a great time to join an academy and start a career because of the numerous opportunities locally and around the state.”
According to Ideastream Public Media, officer staffing levels decreased by 3.48% from 2020 to 2021, and resignations have increased by 42.7% since 2019.
The four-week program begins on Oct. 3 and will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. every Tuesday. The final session on Oct. 24 will include an extra hour to celebrate the students with lunch and a scholarship ceremony.
The spring program will follow the same schedule and begins on Tuesday, Feb. 27.
Students will engage in hands-on training such as intoxicated driver detection and prevention, crime scene investigations, traffic stops and the utilization of radar and lidar, and race relations in policing.
The application deadline is Sept. 4.
Each program is limited to 50 spots, so interested students are encouraged to enroll soon.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
