Missouri Southern State University, Law Enforcement Academy

Missouri Southern State University, Justice Through Education

Law Enforcement Academy

Missouri Southern State University
Criminal Justice Programs
600 Hour Certified Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy

Academy Dates
Day Class: August 22, 2005 - December 15, 2005
Day Class: January 16, 2006 - May 18, 2006
Night Class: August 22, 2005- May 18, 2006

The Criminal Justice Program and Law Enforcement Academy
The Criminal Justice Program at Missouri Southern State University provides professional education and training to students and the criminal justice community.

Besides offering a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration and an Associate of Science degree in Law Enforcement that prepare students for careers in the criminal justice system and graduate school, the Criminal Justice Program provides Certified Training and Continuing Education to the criminal justice community.

The Missouri Southern State University Law Enforcement Academy is certified by the Missouri Department of Public Safety to provide a basic law enforcement academy in Missouri. The Academy provides students with the training required to become eligible to be licensed peace officers in the State of Missouri.

The Mills Anderson Justice Center
The Justice Center is an impressive, state-of-the-art facility providing students with an educational environment that fosters professionalism.

There are many unique features at the Justice Center that contribute to the overall learning experience, and serve the criminal justice community. Academy students learn defensive tactics in the gymnasium and develop strength and endurance in the weight and cardiovascular center. A modern indoor firearms range equipped with the latest technology is used to develop firearms skills. Two state-of-the-art computer (FATS) firearms training simulators are used to enhance use of force decision making and judgmental skills. Realistic situational and practical training and law enforcement defensive driving is accomplished utilizing two fully equipped Police vehicles. Continuing education programs and graduation programs are conducted in the 350 seat criminal justice auditorium. The Regional Crime Laboratory is located in the Justice Center, as well as sophisticated photographic and computer laboratories.

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Location ( map )
The Law Enforcement Training Academy is located in the Mills Anderson Justice Center on the campus of Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Missouri.
The Justice Center is located just north of the main campus on Newman Road, and is easily accessible from Interstate 44, U.S. 66 (7th Street) and, U.S. 71 (Rangeline).

Most Academy students commute to the Justice Center during training. However, housing is available at the residence halls on campus for a fee. Contact the Law Enforcement Academy for additional housing information.

600 Hour Academy Curriculum
Legal Studies
  Constitutional Law
  Missouri Statutory Law
  Traffic Law
Interpersonal Perspectives
  Ethics and Professionalism
  Human Behavior
Technical Studies
  Patrol
  Jail Population Management
  Traffic Accident and Law Enforcement
  Criminal Investigation
  Report Writing
  Juvenile Justice and Procedures
  First Aid (First Responder)
Skill Development
  Defensive Tactics
  Physical Training
  Firearms
  Driver Training
  Practical Application Exercises

Instruction will be provided by the Criminal Justice Administration Department's faculty, area criminal justice professionals, and other professional state certified instructors.

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600 Hour Basic Law Enforcement Academy Schedule
Day classes are scheduled to meet 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday and occasional Saturdays. Night classes are scheduled to meet 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (occasional 11:00 p.m.), Monday through Thursday evenings. Night classes will meet about nine (9) Saturdays (times are subject to change).

Cost
The cost for the Academy is $4,387 (Day Academy), $4,470 (Night Academy). Costs include tuition, lab fee, university activity fee, training and equipment fee, parking, university I.D., and records fee (costs are subject to change). Financial aid is available to those who qualify. You may inquire about financial aid on the Missouri Southern State University home page at www.mssu.edu/finaid/ or at 417-625-9325.

Application/Admission/Certification
Applicants must be at least 20 years of age to begin a class. Applicants must be 21 years of age, a United States Citizen, and have a high school diploma or its equivalent at the time certification is issued. An applicant with a criminal history must receive Missouri POST (Peace Officer Standards & Training) clearance before they can attend a class. Proof of medical insurance is required.
All applicants are required to have an interview with the Training Coordinator before getting admitted and starting a class.

Missouri Peace Officer Certification and Licensing Examination
Upon completion of the Law Enforcement Academy, applicants that meet Missouri POST certification requirements will be eligible to take the Missouri Peace Officer Certification and Licensing Examination. The certification and licensing examination is a two hundred point objective examination administered by the Missouri Department of Public Safety the last week of the Law Enforcement Academy. For further information regarding the Missouri Peace Officer Certification and Licensing Examination you may visit the Department of Public Safety website at www.dps.state.mo.us/post/.

Certification and Continuing Education
Students who successfully complete the 600 Hour Certified Law Enforcement Academy at Missouri Southern State University, pass the Missouri Peace Officer Certification and Licensing Examination, and meet certification requirements for a Peace Officer in Missouri receive a Class A License as a Peace Officer in Missouri. A Peace Officer License does not empower you with the authority to arrest or enforce any of the laws of the State of Missouri. This will only occur after you have been employed by a law enforcement agency and commissioned by that agency. A Class A License is valid for a period of five years. If a person is not employed as a Peace Officer within five years of receiving their license it expires.

Once hired by a law enforcement agency the officer will be required to complete a minimum of 48 hours of continuing education every three years to renew their license. Four hours of continuing education must be completed in each of the four core curricula areas: Legal Studies, Interpersonal Perspectives, Technical Studies, and Skill Development, within the Skill Development area four hours must be firearms related. The remaining 36 hours may be completed within any of the four curricula areas. Effective January 1, 2003 all peace officers must receive one hour of racial profiling training per year as part of their continuing education requirement, this racial profiling training will count toward the overall 48 hours required continuing education in the three year reporting period.

For further information, contact:
The Law Enforcement Academy
Missouri Southern State University
3950 E. Newman Road
Joplin, Missouri 64801-1595
Phone: (417)625-9684, Fax: (417)625-9796
E-mail: Wayne Thomason