The basic Law Enforcement Technical Certificate prepares students to meet standards for law enforcement officers as established by the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST). Credit earned for the successful completion of this training may be applied toward the Associate of Applied Science degree in Law Enforcement. Upon completion of the entire course of instruction, the student will be awarded 23 semester hours of credit. Also, the student will be eligible for certification as a peace officer in the State of Tennessee upon hire by a POST-affiliated law enforcement agency.

Currently, these courses are only available through full-time enrollment in the Law Enforcement Training Academy.  Approval from the Director of the Law Enforcement Training Academy is required for admission to the class.

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to do the following:

1. Identify the requirement, processes, and challenges of a career in law enforcement.
2. Demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving skills.
3. Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively.
4. Identify and apply applicable legislative principals to public service practice.
5. Evaluate effective actions in general law enforcement situations.
6. Analyze the functions of different components of the United States criminal justice system.
7. Evaluate the constitutional protections offered to all citizens and connect them to general police procedures

* Applications must be received by this date.

Criminal Justice Students proceed through a competitive process for admission to the training program.

 ** Orientation

Mandatory Orientation: from 8:30 a.m. until approximately 5:00 p.m. (EST) in room T-106

Enrollment in the Basic Law Enforcement Course involves mandatory participation in physical conditioning, defensive tactics and patrol related practicum activities.   The successful recruit should report to the academy in sufficient physical condition.

Physical Demands of Training

Defensive tactics

This training, largely based on pressure point control, is continuous throughout the course and requires the officer to learn, practice and demonstrate on fellow students the following exercises:

• Baton and handcuffing techniques
• Methods of breaking holds
• Weapon retention and disarming
• Basic punches and kicks
• Front, side and lateral take-down maneuvers
• Pressure point control
• Active counter measures
• Joint locks

Firearms Training Courses

One week of the Basic Law Enforcement Course is devoted to firearms training.   Many of the combat and qualification courses require heavy exertion prior to and during actual firing.   In addition, a specific firearms course is designed to place heavy physical and emotional stress on the participant and includes the following criteria conducted under timed conditions:

• Receive a radio dispatch
• Exit a marked patrol car.
• Run 50 yards
• Negotiate several obstacles and interact with instructors during stressful situations.
• Perform to acceptable standards while under Sympathetic Nervous System Activation
• Assess and correctly identify threat targets amidst numerous distractions
• Issue verbal commands appropriate to those threats
• Conduct multiple timed shoot/no-shoot decisions while demonstrating proper tactics
• Move to cover and assess further needs for assistance.

Emergency vehicle operations,  crimes-in-progress, building  searches, various vehicle and on-foot stop and approach situations. These will require physical endurance, flexibility, and situational awareness to successfully negotiate. These exercises are both training and testing in nature and will involve the use of Simunition FX Marking cartridges and protective equipment. The nature of needed student equipment is provided at orientation.

Physical Fitness

This training requires the student to perform exercises to increase endurance, flexibility and muscle development.   Physical fitness is evaluated by sit-ups, push-ups, wind sprints, distance running, etc., on a scale adjusted for age.

Applicants must understand that the physical demands of the Academy are strenuous but satisfactory completion is mandatory to graduate.

Students should condition themselves prior to entering the Academy as they will perform physical training five days a week to prepare for the test of the obstacle course and life as an officer on the street. The student should also concentrate on running up to 3 miles at a moderate pace to prepare for the Academy. Student will also be tested at the beginning week of the daily physical training and again in the final week. The trainee will have to accomplish the standards set by the trainers to pass that portion of the training.

Students will be tested on the following:

• Sit-ups
• Push-ups
• 300 Meter Run
• 1.5 Mile Run
• Timed Obstacle Course
•  

The Cleveland State Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy is an intensive 12 week program, 530 hour course of instruction on basic law enforcement.  During the academy the average day for a student starts at 5:45 am and concludes around 5 pm with several evening training sessions. 

Financial aid options for paying for the academy include:

The FAFSA MUST BE COMPLETED FOR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS at www.fafsa.ed.gov

Student Loans

American Job Center - Contact 423-614-8754

GI Bill™ - Contact Tishauna Hoffman at 423-473-2665 or thoffman@clevelandstatec.edu

Tennessee Reconnect - https://www.clevelandstatecc.edu/admissions/cleveland-state-reconnect/index.html 

• Apply for financial aid at www.FAFSA.gov
• A student is encouraged to apply early for financial aid. He/she must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the FAFSA Renewal Application as soon as possible after October 1 to ensure that the Financial Aid Office receives the Institutional Student Information Record and other documents prior to the priority deadline. July 1st is the priority deadline for applying for the fall semester and December 1st for the spring semester.