FAIRMONT, W.Va. – The inaugural class of the Fairmont State University Law Enforcement Academy is underway. Fairmont State University Police Chief and Academy Director Jeff McCormick said the 16-week program is based in Pence Hall.
“We have 19 cadets representing 13 different agencies in the state who signed up,” McCormick said. “The curriculum is coming together, it’s going to be a rigorous academically based program.”
McCormick said there is a substantial academic load for the cadets, but they have regular opportunities to practically apply classroom lessons and techniques. Academy staff are in the process of recruiting mock witnesses and crime victims to add realism and help with training and development through the 16-week program.
“The curriculum is a very scenario-based process,” McCormick said. “Cadets will be getting lectures, of course, but they’ll actually have the opportunity to get out and use what they’ve been taught in a very hands-on system.”
This program doesn’t lean as heavily on the old boot camp concept of “tearing down” a cadet and building them into a police officer. McCormick said this program is based on practical experiences and putting cadets in situations where they have to act with very little time to weigh their options. Some of the 13 agencies participating are in small West Virginia cities and towns, and they will be forced to work alone.
“So, they’re going to be responding to calls by themselves; they’re going to be interviewing witnesses and victims by themselves; and they’re going to have to make decisions on the spur of the moment on their own, so that’s really what we’re focused on teaching.”
In addition to classroom and field training, the cadets will also train locally on firearm proficiency.
“The Fairmont Police Department has a range they use, and they’re going to have an agreement so we can use their range as well,” McCormick said.
McCormick said they have received positive input, other than the 13 agencies that are currently participating, and believes the classes will grow in size as more graduates move to agencies and work with the public. He believes the maximum class size in the future could be as high as 30.
“I’m really excited and looking forward to the end when we can graduate these students and put them to work,” McCormick said. “The communities will really see the quality education they’ll be getting here at Fairmont State University.”