Public Safety Training and Modernization

The Department of Public Safety proposes to use congressionally directed funding to establish a non-residential, state-of-the-art alternative to the residential police academy in Pittsford through a partnership between the Vermont Criminal Justice Council and a third-party vendor. Potential third-party vendors include not for profit colleges, universities, technical schools, and/or private non-profit entities who are capable of delivering law enforcement certification. At least one Vermont college has expressed interest in such a partnership. Strong preference will be given to a Vermont-based vendor, and ideally a Vermont college.

This rigorous, academically based, training program would prepare graduates to become law enforcement officers. It will so with a strong focus on modernized training that emphasizes the expectations of the Vermont community regarding the role of modern policing (One example of this is training officers to work with mental health workers or embedded social workers.) Currently, to become a Vermont law enforcement officer, one must be certified by the Vermont Criminal Justice Council, which oversees the Vermont Police Academy. The proposed non-residential police academy would be an alternate path to law enforcement certification in the State of Vermont.