Pikes Peak Regional Law Enforcement Academy Certificate

Additional information available on the Law Enforcement Academy Department website.

Recommended basic skills courses are

• College Readiness in English

The Pikes Peak Regional Law Enforcement Academy provides qualified individuals the opportunity to gain the skills to become a law enforcement officer. The Academy offers a basic recruit curriculum sanctioned by the Peace Officers Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.). During their enrollment, students take approximately 525 hours of coursework. At the end of the training program, P.O.S.T. administers the final certification exam. Those who successfully complete the exam are granted P.O.S.T. certification for three years. Colorado State Law requires that all individuals be P.O.S.T. certified prior to applying to a law enforcement agency.* Candidates will be subject to appropriate background checks.

Admission to the Pikes Peak Regional Law Enforcement Academy is accomplished through an application and selection process. Admission to the college does not guarantee admission into the Academy.

Additional requirements for admission to the Pikes Peak Regional Law Enforcement Academy may apply.

* Some agencies may require employees to attend their academy as a condition of employment.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Pikes Peak Regional Law Enforcement Academy certificate program, students should be able to:

• Explain and describe the law enforcement and judicial processes in felony and misdemeanor offenses, including primary responsibilities of the federal, state and local courts
• Write a clear, complete, and concise report, including identification of characteristics of effective investigative reports and what types of reports may be required
• Describe and demonstrate effective techniques for diffusing conflict through oral communication skills to include, defining crisis states and crisis interventions when dealing with emotionally disturbed individuals
• Explain and demonstrate basic crime scene photography techniques, crime scene note taking techniques, collecting evidence and demonstrate the difference between an interview and an interrogation
• Explain problem-solving as one of the two core components of community policing and the roles of community, government, and police in the problem-solving process. Additionally, identify partnership opportunities between the community, government, and police
• Explain the first, fourth, fifth, sixth, eighth and fourteenth amendments to the U.S. Constitution in relation to a peace officer’s responsibilities
• Explain the concepts of due process, equal protection of the law, and the impact of constitutional rights violations on law enforcement
• Identify criminal violations (and the elements of crimes) within the Colorado Revised Statutes. Additionally, identify elements of traffic code violations as defined within Title 42 of the Colorado Revised Statutes
• Demonstrate basic proficiency in the required law enforcement skills of arrest control, law enforcement driving and firearms