IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9-07-07 CONTACT: PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
SILVER CITY—Applications are now being accepted for the next Western New Mexico University Police Academy class to begin in January 2008. Interested individuals are encouraged to begin the enrollment process now, as space is limited.
For acceptance into the program, individuals must complete the WNMU admission application, score at least a 40 on the Compass test in reading and writing, pass a background evaluation (must not have any felony convictions or misdemeanor convictions concerning domestic violence), and pass a medical and psychological evaluation.
The cadets accepted into the academy will undergo some 900 hours of law enforcement training during a six-month period. The police academy program includes 17 blocks of training that cadets must pass including: criminal law, investigation, patrol, firearms, pursuit driving, defensive tactics, arrest control, and patrol fitness.
The current job market for police officers is very favorable.
“One hundred percent of our graduates have been placed at various police departments as police officers in the last few years of the program. The WNMU Police Academy has a very good reputation and we are consistently within the top two to three academies in the state concerning performance,” said Steve Chavez, Police Academy Director.
For more information about the Police Academy, contact the Criminal Justice Department at (505) 538-6321 or Chavez at (505) 538-6288. -30-