Pope County Judge Ben Cross and Pope County Sheriff Shane Jones have partnered with Arkansas Tech Career Center to donate a retired police cruiser for the benefit of ATCC students engaged in the study of criminal justice and law enforcement.
“This resource will be of significant assistance to our criminal justice and law enforcement students and faculty,” said Pat Edmunds, ATCC director. “Every real-world experience we can provide to our students helps them understand the opportunities and responsibilities that exist within the career fields that interest them. We are so appreciative to Judge Cross, Sheriff Jones and their understanding of what resources like this mean to the development of future law enforcement officers.”
According to information published to the ATCC website, the criminal justice and law enforcement program prepares students to perform the duties of police and public security officers, including patrol, investigative activities, traffic control, crowd control, crime scene investigation and public relations.
Students begin in an introduction class where they learn about search and seizure, arresting suspects, court procedures and preventing crime. They continue in their studies by investigating criminal justice careers, defining crimes, defending against attack, responding to emergencies, controlling traffic, performing patrol and maintaining custody of prisoners.
After completion of courses through an independent study program, students have the opportunity to obtain several Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) certifications and advance to further study of criminal justice and law enforcement through ATU-Ozark Campus and/or the ATU campus in Russellville.
“I’m excited for this collaboration with the Arkansas Tech Career Center,” said Cross. “In today’s difficult workforce environment, I’m a true believer in growing our own future employment pool. If this small investment provides a career path for a criminal justice student, then we have in fact, invested in ourselves as a community.”
ATCC criminal justice and law enforcement classes are offered at the ATCC location in Russellville.
“Along with Judge Cross,” said Jones, “I am also excited to assist the students who attend ATCC and give them the tools they need to learn more about the law enforcement profession and what we do every day.”
For more information about the program, send e-mail to Lance Davis, workforce education faculty member in criminal justice and law enforcement, at ldavis2@atu.edu.
For more information about ATCC, visit www.atu.edu/careercenter.
