Law enforcement agencies need to do much training to sharpen skills for police officers. That training often is done at locations far from the Northwoods and at a considerable cost. Nicolet College has designed a program to train law enforcement closer to home.
Criminal Justice Instructor Phil Schmidt...
"...what our intent is is to bring training that officers from our local agencies within the Nicolet District. We're trying to bring that locally so they can get up to date training on important things needed in the field, but also at a reduced expense to the agency and the taxpayer...."
This year Nicolet has offered 32 law enforcement professional development classes that included 562 participants. Schmidt says this training often includes training in advanced techniques...
"..recently we did a week long evidence technician class that the Wisconsin State Crime Lab conducted, or it might be as simple as a basic radar or tazer training that we will provide. It's being offered locally for our agencies...."
Schmidt says lodging, travel, meals, and tuition over several days often were too costly for local law enforcement agencies. He says the training also includes people from other regions and states and those people then are the ones spending money in the local economy.
In 2014, the college has been awarded more than $55,000 in grants to help facilitate this training.
