Local university to modernize law enforcement training academy

By Jenna Wilson

Missouri Western State University’s Law Enforcement Academy is seeing equipment upgrades and covering tuition fees for incoming cadets.

MWSU intends to utilize $150,000 of leftover American Rescue Plan Act funds to provide tuition assistance to cadets who are currently or will be enrolling in its Law Enforcement Academy located at 4525 Downs Drive in St. Joseph, Missouri.

The City of St. Joseph recently announced its plans to utilize the leftover ARPA funds in an effort to replace antiquated equipment and failing infrastructure, in the hopes of reducing costs for MWSU.

Some of the antiquated equipment which is being replaced includes weapon holsters, protective vests, armory items, tasers and other equipment that Law Enforcement Academy cadets train with prior to graduation.

A secondary goal of the ARPA funds is to secure equipment that is a close match to what current area law enforcement officers utilize daily.

“We train the way we fight,” said Lonnie Bishop, Regional Law Enforcement Academy Director with MWSU. “We want everything in our Academy to be as similar as we can to what our officers that are out on patrol now and protecting us, utilize in the city.”

An important piece of equipment that the St. Joseph, Mo., Police Department officers use is also receiving is an upgrade.

SJPD officers will see equipment upgrades to their current Taser X26P, it will be updated to the Taser 10 – a taser in which the probes are able to make a more efficient connection to a suspect’s body.

The new Taser 10’s will also be used by cadets who are currently beginning their training at the Law Enforcement Academy. The goal of this is to create an easier transition for graduates when they gain positions with any of the local law enforcement agencies.

“One thing we want to do is make sure that our officers are equipped with the best equipment, that we can afford, so they can do their job safely and more efficiently,” said SJPD Chief Paul Luster. “Starting them in the academy with that modern technology to train with, and then just come right over when they enter into policing being familiar with it, that’s what we’re trying to accomplish here.”

One of the most significant benefits from the Law Enforcement Academy’s usage of the leftover ARPA funds is being able to offer tuition assistance to incoming cadets.

City of St. Joseph Officials are hoping that this decision to allow MWSU’s Law Enforcement Academy to access the leftover ARPA funds for cadet tuition assistance, as well as, upgrades for equipment and infrastructure will further improve recruitment efforts for area law enforcement agencies.

The Law Enforcement Academy stated that they will pay the tuition and fees for additional cadets who enroll any time between now, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, until Dec. 31, 2026.

“Officer recruitment has always been something the city and county has been working to improve,” Director Bishop said. “We’re continuing to see our program get better and this is going to allow us to get more officers out on the force and serving and protecting the community.”

Shawn Dalton, recent graduate from MWSU’s Law Enforcement Academy, has shared his intentions to transition to a position within the SJPD after he had first-hand experience with some of the new and improved equipment which he explained has better prepared him for his new position.

“They teach us here in the Academy that every scenario we face is going to be different,” Dalton said. “Even witnessing the de-escalation scenario we just went through, I’ve learned with my past experience, that certain female officers are better at negotiating and calming down individuals, so my role sometimes is just to be there and be that cover officer.”

“All the equipment we’re using and each scenario we’re going through has prepared me for this job ahead,” Dalton concluded.

For those interested in more information about MWSU’s Law Enforcement Academy visit the university’s website at www.missouriwestern.edu/academy/.