By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The joint law enforcement academy in St. Joseph helps to teach residents about the ins and outs of law enforcement.
The academy hosted by the St. Joseph Police Department and Buchanan County Sheriff's Department is coming up in April.
Police Chief Paul Luster says the academy gives residents a look at just about everything law enforcement does.
"Everything from investigations to crime scene investigations, to just a routine traffic stop, what officers go through on what we call a routine traffic stop, to really forge those relationships," Luster tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr.
Luster says the academy gives residents a chance to see the dedication of numerous officers in the community
"How much training, they go through a lot of training just to do this job and then they decide I want to be a crime scene investigator and then how much more training is involved just in that," Luster explains. "And then always the potential there that that phone is going to ring anytime day or night, 24/7, 365."
And Luster says it's neat that the academy is a partnership with the Sheriff's Department.
"That really gives our community a chance to see what both agencies are doing and what they bring to the table to serve the community," Luster says.
The Joint Law Enforcement Academy presents several opportunities to learn about the ins and outs of the law enforcement profession.
Luster says one of those opportunities is a ride along with St. Joseph police officers.
"You can learn so much, when you say you get that really up close and personal view of policing, you really do," Luster points out. "And a lot of times that can change a lot of perspectives about the job."
Outside of the academy, St. Joseph Police do also offer a ride along program that can be applied for.
Applications for the academy are available on the St. Joseph Police Department Facebook or downtown at the Law Enforcement Center. The first session is April 2nd.