Career Description

Law Enforcement professionals respond to emergency and non-emergency calls for service, perform traffic enforcement to include traffic crash response and investigation, and investigate crimes and enforce state and federal statutes. Upon successful completion of this certificate program students will be eligible to take the MN Peace Officers Standards and Training Exam (P.O.S.T.). Upon successful completion of the P.O.S.T. Exam, students will be qualified to apply to Minnesota Law Enforcement Agencies within the State of Minnesota.

Program Information

This unique program allows students to get an insider’s look into the career of law enforcement. CLC students get in the driver’s seat of new, state-of-the-art squad cars that come with the same software that officers use on the streets today. In this eight-week program, you’ll be trained in firearms, defense tactics, using a Taser, chemical aerosol, radar and using LIDAR. After earning your Law Enforcement Skills Certificate, along with a Criminal Justice A.A.S. Degree, Criminal Justice Certificate or Natural Resources Law enforcement, you’ll be ready to take the peace officer licensing exam.

Program Outcomes

Graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate physical restraints necessary during an arrest procedure;
• Operate an emergency vehicle safely when responding to emergency situations;
• Handle a variety of calls and respond in accordance with criminal procedure;
• Understand use of force and its legalities;
• Recognize life threatening situations and respond accordingly.

Special Program Requirements

In addition to the program requirements, students must meet the following conditions in order to graduate:

1. College Cumulative GPA Requirement: cumulative grade point average (GPA) of credits attempted and completed at CLC must be at least 2.0;
2. College Technical Core GPA Requirement: cumulative GPA of credits attempted and completed towards the technical core of the diploma or degree must be at least 2.0;
3. Residency Requirement: students must complete 25% of their credits at Central Lakes College;
4. Courses required for Minnesota P.O.S.T. licensing must be completed within three (3) years of starting the certificate;
5. Students successfully pass all courses of the Skills certificate to be eligible to sit for the Post Exam.
6. Students must have a valid Emergency Medical Responder certification (or higher) at the time of the Post Board Exam.

Admissions

• Students must pass a background check prior to being officially admitted into the program. This background check will be completed during the admissions process.
• Students must also complete the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) with a psychologist approved by the Program Coordinator during the admissions process.
• Students must possess a valid driver’s license.
• Students must have completed, or be concurrently enrolled in, an Associate in Arts, Bachelors, or Criminal Justice AAS Degree from an accredited institution for admission into this program.
• Students must successfully complete CRJU 2101 Criminal Law, CRJU 2114 Traffic Law, and CRJU 2106 Fitness for Law Enforcement prior to admission to the program.
• Must have PPOE Coordinator approval and pass a physical assessment prior to being accepted into this program.

Please see the Criminal Justice Coordinator for further information.