8 graduate from USU Eastern Police Academy

By Sun Advocate

Eight students with the goal of becoming peace officers made up the second-ever graduating class of the Eastern Peace Officer Academy at USU Eastern.
Five of the eight 2016 graduates have already been snapped up by Utah police and other law enforcement agencies, said director Scott Henrie.
All but one of the 10 graduates in the first-ever 2015 graduating class have obtained positions, some of them even before they received their diplomas. And that lone student with no job yet? “He’s turned down two offers, trying to find the perfect fit,” said Henrie.
The USU Eastern police academy is one of five branches statewide that provide courses for POST, Peace Officer Standards and Training. The others are at Dixie State University, Salt Lake Community College, Utah Valley University and Weber State University.
Henrie said the next academic year — the criminal justice program requires two semesters to complete — will see some changes as Price and the other locations work to bring their programs in line with similar standards. Joint Resolution on Education for Law Enforcement Professionals
Henrie, an associate professor and chair of the criminal justice at USU Eastern, said the Price program requires 18 credit hours in basic law enforcement training that includes what Henrie calls “lab work.” This hands-on training including active shooter training, building search. One additional course, Emergency Vehicles Operations program, is required to be taken at the POST facility in Sandy because of its specialized track and vehicles.
At the end of those courses, graduates are “certifiable” and will be certified once they find a job in law enforcement or corrections, said Henrie.
USU Eastern’s program also offers a criminal justice associate’s degree, which graduates between 15 and 20 students every year, said Henrie. A criminal justice minor is available at the Logan USU campus. Both programs have become so popular that a four-year criminal justice degree is in the works, said Henrie. He anticipates the criminal justice bachelor’s degree will be offered by the 2017 academic year.