Community Businesses, Organizations Assist in Police Academy Scenario-Based Training

By Jeff Murphy, November 20, 2019

WARRENSBURG, MO – Individuals enrolled in an 840-hour training program at the Central Missouri Police Academy are finishing the program with a week of scenario-based testing out in the Warrensburg and Whiteman Air Force Base communities. Many area businesses and organizations are assisting in this effort Nov. 18-22, which provides practical experience and assists in evaluating the quality of training for the 158th class at the University of Central Missouri.

All scenarios use criminal justice students who are part of UCM’s Lambda Alpha Epsilon - Gamma Epsilon Delta (LAE-GED) chapter, former academy graduates who are now active in law enforcement and Whiteman Air Force Base Special Forces personnel under the director of Lt. Col. Aaron Williams, CMSgt. Paul Stansbeerry, MSgt Joshua Hahn, and Jerry Osban, civilian, manager of the USAF Resource Protection Program.

Local businesses are supporting the academy by providing personnel and resources temporarily for a number of different scenarios. This includes physical training for cadets, processing vehicles for evidence, bad check investigation, financial elder abuse investigation, active shooter training, response to a terrorist threat, office space for service calls, calls related to an abandoned baby, checking the well-being of a confused person, response to a call about fake money, domestic disturbance, bomb threat, search warrant for a building, and responding to disturbance calls.

Community businesses and organizations that have offered their support for these training exercises are: Old Drum Animal Shelter; Buzzanga Auto Repair; Central Missouri Credit Union, F and C Bank, AMC Theater, Missouri American Water company, ReMax with Bryan Jacob, Warrensburg Fire Department, Solar Pro Tint and Tunes, Comfort Inn, and Johnson County Emergency Management.

UCM organizations assisting in this effort include the Criminal Justice program, Department of Public Safety, Missouri Safety Center Robert L. Marshall Complex, and Elliott Student Union. The Multipurpose Building parking lot and UCM Alumni Chapel also will be used in the training exercises.

“With the support of the University as well as the community we are able to better simulate calls for service to better prepare and to better evaluate our cadets as they prepare to graduate from our program and enter into a career in law enforcement,” said Tim Lowry, director of the Central Missouri Police Academy. “With an 89 percent hire rate this academy before graduation this is critical in preparing our cadets for success in their chosen profession.

Individuals who have questions should contact D. Jane Heavin, assistant director, Institute for Public Safety, Central Missouri Police Academy, at 660-543-4090.