MANSFIELD, Pa. — Commonwealth University’s Mansfield campus and
The Mansfield University Public Safety Training Institute (MUPSTI) have entered
into a training agreement with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC).
The Mansfield University Municipal Police
Academy is conducting Law Enforcement training for 19 PFBC Waterways
Conservation Officer (WCO) trainees. The trainees will receive approximately
six months of Law Enforcement training as required by the Pennsylvania
Municipal Police Training Act, Act 120. The training is being conducted at the
Mansfield campus and will allow the future WCOs to function as Law Enforcement
Officers in Pennsylvania. The WCO trainees are staying in on-campus housing
during the duration of their training at Mansfield.
WCO trainees will receive instruction at
Mansfield in various topics including, but not limited to Pennsylvania criminal
law and procedures, human relations and special needs, patrol procedures,
criminal investigation, Pennsylvania vehicle code enforcement, drug law
enforcement, emergency vehicle operation, physical conditioning, firearms
training, armed and unarmed self-defense and control tactics, and emergency
response training.
The WCO trainees began their training at
Mansfield on Aug. 29 and will complete their law enforcement training in late
February 2023. Upon successful completion of the Act 120 training at Mansfield,
the WCO trainees will then receive approximately six more months of additional
specialized training through the PFBC in order to successfully graduate as PFBC
WCOs.
“The MU Academy is unique in that we can
provide the certification training while working with residence life and food
services to provide an all-inclusive residential academy,” said Joshua Battin,
senior associate dean of the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities at
Mansfield.
Battin
said, in the past, police departments have sent one or two officers to the
academy to integrate with their classes, but the PFBC is the largest single
agency group they have trained, requiring them to conduct an additional academy
class this year and now have two different classes in the training process.
“The
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission recognizes Act 120 training as an
important first step in developing professional, knowledgeable officers with
the skills necessary to protect our aquatic resources and the people who enjoy
them,” said Lt. Col. Thomas Burrell with the PFBC Bureau of Law Enforcement. “Mansfield’s
program is uniquely situated to provide quality training in a progressive,
positive manner, and we look forward to the long-term benefits this partnership
will yield.”
The
MUPSTI has the second lowest tuition rate of all Act 120 Police Academies in
Pennsylvania. It also offers several scholarships and incentives for those
individuals who wish to become police officers in the state.
“Through a generous grant from the Emergency
Response Training and Certification Association (ERTCA) we have $2,500
scholarships for all cadets who successfully complete the training and
certification process,” Battin said. “In addition, we can provide free
on-campus housing for those that are from out of the area or otherwise need it.
We have also partnered with the Quest for the Best Foundation, which provides a
50 percent scholarship to two cadets for each academy.”
“This partnership serves as an excellent
example of what is possible through strong workforce development initiatives.
Commonwealth University is focused on providing these types of opportunities
for training and credentialing to individuals throughout the region and state,”
said Bashar W. Hanna, president of Commonwealth University.
“Working with employers to develop high-quality,
innovative, and inclusive training, leading to industry-recognized credentials,
is at the core of workforce development training,” said Hope Lineman, executive
director of workforce development for Commonwealth University. “We are
delivering on our mission in new and creative ways to ensure that Pennsylvania
residents, including traditional, non-traditional, and working adults, have
access to cutting-edge training and programs through partnerships with community
colleges, employers (apprenticeships), and recognition of prior learning
through a stackable framework taking training to degree. The State System
redesign brings a renewed focus to continue driving economic development and
social mobility.”
For more information about the Mansfield University
Municipal Police Academy, visit www.mansfield.edu/police-academy/.
For more information about the PFBC WCO
training, visit www.fishandboat.com.