Law and Public Safety

KEVIN DICKSON, INSTRUCTOR

CONTACT THE INSTRUCTOR FOR MORE INFORMATION

Program Description 

Law Enforcement Cadet Program
A one-year program for high school students, the Law Enforcement Cadet Program prepares the student for a career in the law enforcement field (State, county, municipal, and college police departments or federal law enforcement). Other similar fields one can apply learned skills include corrections officer, probation/parole officer, detention officer, home confinement officer, forensic specialists, private security, and loss prevention. The student can also prepare to further their education in the criminal justice field at the community college or 4-year college levels.
Completion of this program does not take the place of training at a police academy. Completion of the WV State Police Academy is required for employment as a police officer in West Virginia. What this program will do, is give the graduate is an opportunity to learn some of the skills and concepts needed for success in the police academy and for a law enforcement career. Being exposed to these skills and concepts prior to attendance gives the student an advantage over other candidates within the police academy setting. Even if one of the similar fields are chosen over the law enforcement field, the graduate would have essential skills to work more effectively with law enforcement and the legal system.

Skill Sets

• Physical coordination and ability to perform skills like handcuffing, defensive tactics movements, and use of many law enforcement weapons like ASP baton, OC spray, and firearms.
• Report writing
• Self-starting ability to learn new things
• Legal terminology
• Physical training ability to run and perform various exercise routines in preparation for WV State Police Academy physical ability test required for entry to the Academy
• Simple math
• Written and verbal police procedures

Entrance Requirements

• Students must be currently enrolled in a Kanawha County School (private school students may be accepted on a space available basis)
• Must have good reading skills
• Must have good written communication skills
• Must have the ability to perform moderate to heavy physical activity
• Students must be able to arrange their own transportation to certain activities (Adequate notice will be given)
• Students must possess basic computer operational skills (Navigation of the Internet, word processing, presentations, spreadsheets)
• Students will have to be comfortable speaking in front of the class

Estimated Cost

There are no costs associated with this class for KCS high school students.