Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice - Police Academy (certificate)

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Official Title of Certificate: Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice - Police Academy, Certificate

Award: Certificate

Code: CRT.LEN.POLICE-ACAD

Total Credit Hours: 45

About the Homeland Security and Criminal Justice Institute

Range of Occupations

Maryland local law enforcement; various federal security and law enforcement; various business sector security professions; adult and juvenile correctional occupations; court security jobs.

Academic and Integrity Standards

Anne Arundel Community College’s Police Academy is certified by the Maryland Police Training Commission. With the exception of Firearms training, graduates must meet the minimal regulation, standard instruction, and testing requirements mandated by the Commission, as well as others required by the Director of the Academy and by Anne Arundel Community College. The Academy is a full-time program, requiring students to begin with an orientation course, generally offered in the summer, and additional courses in the subsequent fall, winter, and spring semesters. Students may not fail any police academy course and must complete the police academy with an overall GPA of 2.0 or better. Students must be eligible to take ENG 101 or ENG 101A by the end of their academy training. Before graduating, students must comply with all financial, academic, ethical, and conduct-related policies established by the MPTC, the Institute for Homeland Security and Criminal Justice, and AACC. Within 2 years from completing the academy, students are eligible for immediate hire by any local law enforcement agency in the state of Maryland.

Additional Degree Requirements

To gain admittance into the police academy, students must first enroll in the college, take a college placement test (if required), and interview with a Police Academy Advisor. Once found eligible, the Academy Advisor will issue a Letter of Eligibility to the student. The Letter of Eligibility must be presented to Records and Registration before enrolling in the Police Academy Orientation course. Students will also be required to complete criminal and motor vehicle background checks; and a physical fitness examination. Students must be 21 years of age at the time of graduating from the academy. Students must be able to adhere to a rigorous, full-time course schedule set in advance by the Director of the Police Academy. Students must be willing to adhere to a para-military command structure. Students are required to purchase and wear authorized uniforms; attend academy meetings; successfully complete course assignments, assessments, and academy comprehensive examinations; and public service projects. Students will attend off-campus training such as an Emergency Vehicle Operations course and Standardized Field Sobriety Test Training. Many of our Recruit Officers remain employed, serve in the National Guard, or meet their obligations as parents, caregivers and business owners while attending the academy.

Special Conditions

Financial Aid: This program has not been approved by the U.S. Department of Education for eligibility for federal student aid. Students enrolled in this program may not be eligible to receive financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education (Pell Grants, SEOG, Federal Work-Study, Direct Loans or PLUS loans) or the Maryland Higher Education Commission (Educational Assistance Grants, Senatorial Scholarships or Delegate Scholarships). For current information on eligible programs, contact Financial Aid by calling 410-777-2203, emailing finaid@aacc.edu or stopping by a Financial Aid office.

Certificate Graduation Requirements

Refer to Academic Regulations on Graduation Requirements .

Entrance/Admission Requirements

Entrance Requirements

Students must meet with the program coordinator for advisement and eligibility approval before enrolling in the police academy. Please call 410-777-7319 or 410-777-7063; or email dmhammel@aacc.edu to set up a meeting. The police academy begins in the summer semester of every year with an orientation course, and ends May 31 in the following year. Students must be 21 years of age by May 31 to enroll in the police academy.

Criminal Background Check

Participating in this program requires the satisfactory completion of a criminal background check.

Certificate Requirements: 45 credits

Spring Term

CJS 112 - Police Operations 3 credit hours
CJS 218 - Criminal Justice Communications 3 credit hours
CJS 220 - Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) 2 credit hours
Emergency Vehicle Operations is scheduled and coordinated through the Police Academy Program Coordinator.
CJS 222 - Investigation and Criminalistics 4 credit hours
CJS 225 - Criminal Justice Ethics 3 credit hours
EMT 104 - Emergency Medical Care, CPR & AED 3 credit hours
OR
HEA 150 - Advanced First Aid, CPR and AED 3 credit hours
Students who are graduates of recognized police academies, current employees with fire departments, or current employees with EMT/emergency response agencies may request to have HEA 150 or EMT 104 waived. To do so, students should provide to the Records and Registration office an official (department letterhead) letter stating that they are graduates or employees of one of the above agencies. Courses or training that is not approved by a commission on higher education approved by the United States Department of Education will not be accepted for transfer credit or as meeting the waiver. A minimum of 45 credits must be completed to earn this certificate.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, academy students will be in full compliance with:

The Maryland Police Training Commission’s regulations and standards.
The American Red Cross Association’s First Responders Training standards.
Maryland Police Emergency Vehicle Operations Course.
ASP Baton Training regulations.
NHTSA’s DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing regulations.

Upon successful completion of this program, academy students will be able to:

Apply critical thinking skills in law enforcement and public safety contexts.
Conduct qualitative and quantitative research.
Analyze, differentiate, and interpret varying data.
Articulate concepts and theories of criminology, sociology, psychology as they pertain to the criminal justice system.
Correctly gather, analyze, preserve, and interpret information, artifacts and evidence.
Apply relevant law in police and public safety contexts.
Describe the critical phases of the criminal justice system.
Recall the U.S. Constitution Bill of Rights.
Properly identify diversity and human rights issues pertaining to criminal justice.
Articulate ethical and professional standards of conduct and performance pertaining to criminal justice.
Communicate verbally and in writing in crime enforcement and public safety-related contexts.
Use electronic communication devices appropriately.
Correctly use technology to gather, compose, appraise and apply information.
Demonstrate tactical skills in defensive training, employing chemical agents, making suspect arrests, maintaining street survival, operational communications, etc…
Document and describe scientific processes.
Use scientific methods to solve problems.
Practice sound laboratory skills, meeting scientific standards of precision and care.
Describe the criminal justice system and the rules of evidence.

This program aligns with the college’s core competencies.

Career and Educational Advancement Resources

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