Law Enforcement Academy

LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY (LEA) INFORMATION

704-hour Continuing Education course:

The LEA Basic Peace Officer Course is designed to prepare cadets for a career as a professional peace officer. Successful completion of the LEA equips cadets with the essential skills and knowledge for certification as a Basic Peace Officer by TCLEOSE (Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education) and allows cadets to take the state exam administered by TCLEOSE.

While the program may not guarantee a job, LEA graduates have increased marketability for positions with public safety agencies as certified law enforcement personnel.

The LEA currently offers two full-time, 5-month, day academies annually; and one part-time, 11-month, night academy at the Weatherford campus. Additional offerings are soon to be scheduled for the Decatur campus in early Summer 2010, and regularly as facilities expand.

LEA instructors are drawn from throughout the region, selected from those with current experience in various specializations and a strong desire to give the benefits of their knowledge to the emerging workforce. LEA instruction is heavy on law, criminal and police procedure, and extensive study outside the classroom is strongly suggested.

The LEA is designed to function as a law enforcement agency in order to facilitate learning of police procedure, and cadets are divided into "shifts" with cadet officers appointed to serve within the chain of command. In addition to teamwork and camaraderie, cadets must learn to embrace the ethical and professional behavior expected of modern law enforcement officers both on- and off-duty, in and out of uniform, and will thus be held to high standard during the Academy.

The Basic Peace Officer Course is eligible for the Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG), VA, and Hazelwood (Texas Vets) assistance for qualified applicants.