Dixie State College POST Academy Now Accepting Applications for January Class Session

Dixie State College of Utah’s Regional Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Academy is now accepting applications for evening training courses from prospective students interested in a career in law enforcement. The application deadline for this session is Monday, Dec. 14, 2009.

The training courses will be held Monday through Friday from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., at the DSC Hurricane Education Center starting January 11, 2010. According to program director David Holm, the courses are designed for individuals interested in law enforcement, but are currently working full-time jobs.

The Academy training is divided into two portions, the Special Function Officer (SFO) training, which serves as a prerequisite to the Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) block.

The SFO block curriculum provides 193 hours of training and instruction for certification as a Special Function/Auxiliary Officer. Positions requiring SFO training include constables, auxiliary officers, bailiffs and reserve officers, among other positions approved by individual law enforcement departments.

The LEO training curriculum is a 360-hour block specifically geared toward students who want to pursue careers as full-time police officers, highway patrol troopers or deputy sheriffs, with full police powers.

Those interested in attending the courses need to pass the National Peace Officer Selection Test, which is given at the DSC Testing Center. Other general qualifications include that prospective students be United States citizens, 21 years of age upon graduation from the Academy, and have a high school diploma or equivalent. There is also a physical test that will be given at the beginning of the Academy courses and again prior to graduation.

DSC’s POST Academy was established in March of 2007, as the sixth satellite academy in Utah. Utah POST oversees and regulates each of the satellite academies in the state, which offer basic training programs geared towards those wishing to gain certification that have not been hired by an agency.

The training mirrors that of the regular academy, all learning objectives and training is on the same level as the regular academy. Once a student has graduated they receive the same certification status as Utah Peace Officer as if they attended the regular academy.

For more information on the POST training courses or to register, please contact POST program director David Holm at 435-652-7916, or at dholm@dixie.edu. Information may also be obtained on the Academy’s website at new.dixie.edu/post.