MN Peace Officer Skills Certificate

Career Description

Peace officer 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.

Program Information

This unique program allows students to get an insider’s look into the career of a peace officer. 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 MN Peace Officer Skills Certificate, along with a Criminal Justice A.A.S. Degree, Criminal Justice Certificate or Conservation Officer Preparation A.A.S. Degree, 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;
• Increase crisis intervention awareness relating to diverse communities and understanding cultural differences in mental health and wellness;
• Understand use of force and its legalities;
• Incorporate scenarios of that emphasize police as public servants with the fundamental duty to protect the community from harm.

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 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 a regionally accredited institution for admission into this program.
• Students must successfully complete CRJU 2101 Criminal Law, CRJU 2114 Traffic Law, and CRJU 2106 Fitness for Minnesota Peace Officers 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.