Mid-State Technical College honored its fall 2022 Law Enforcement Academy graduates in a special December 14 ceremony on the Wisconsin Rapids Campus. The 17 students have completed the basic law enforcement training required to become a law enforcement officer in Wisconsin through Mid-State’s Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement 720 Academy.

“I have always enjoyed the opportunities Mid-State Technical College has given me and the Marshfield Police Department," said Marshfield Chief of Police Jody Geurink, who addressed the graduates as the ceremony’s keynote speaker. "As an instructor I have been able to have a hand in preparing students for a career that I truly love, and now, as a chief, I have the opportunity to build relationships with future community partners. The Marshfield Police Department has hired many Mid-State graduates, and we have benefitted from the quality of training given to their students.”

Successful completion of law enforcement basic training is required to be certified by the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) as a law enforcement officer in the state of Wisconsin. Mid-State Technical College offers two basic training academies each year (spring and fall). The 720-hour, 18-week curriculum is determined by the DOJ, and the content of the academy includes a wide and diverse presentation of subjects, addressing all the essential functions required of law enforcement officers.

“This academy experience is designed to allow candidates the opportunity to learn all of the important aspects of the law enforcement career that they are about to embark upon,” said Rick Anderson, Mid-State’s associate dean of Protective & Human Services. “We strive to send candidates out with the skills, tactics, communications and advanced critical thinking that will allow them to safely and effectively protect and serve their communities.”
 
According to Anderson, Mid-State also has an articulation agreement with the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point that allows UW-Stevens Point students to take a semester off from their studies to attend Mid-State’s academy and earn UW-Stevens Point credit for that experience.

Learn more about Mid-State’s Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement 720 Academy and Criminal Justice-Studies programs at mstc.edu/programs.