Demand for law enforcement officers continues to grow, and Moreno Valley College (MVC) has one of the largest public safety training programs in the region, offering many options to earn the credentials needed to protect and serve.
Offered at the Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, located about 11 miles from the college’s main campus, the Basic Peace Officer Academy prepares individuals to perform the duties of police and public security officers. Skills learned include patrol and investigative activities, traffic control, crowd control, public relations, witness interviewing, evidence collection, crime prevention, weapon and equipment operation, report preparation, and other routine law enforcement responsibilities.
The Basic Peace Officer Academy offers associate degrees and certificates that can be completed either through an Intensive or Modular academy. The Intensive is four days a week (10 hours a day) for approximately five to six months. The Modular Academy is presented in three segments during evenings four days a week and some Saturdays.
“One of the biggest advantages of the Modular Program is that it’s flexible and beneficial for individuals who have other responsibilities but still want to pursue a career in law enforcement,” says Heidy Argumedo, a student in the program who is also working on her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice at Cal State San Bernardino. “The academy schedule runs Monday through Friday, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., which makes it possible to balance school, work, or family commitments while still moving toward your goals.”
In addition to learning the skills of day-to-day police work, students also learn about the criminal justice system, its organizational components and processes, and its legal and public policy contexts. This includes instruction in criminal law and policy, police and correction systems organization, the administration of justice and the judiciary, and public attitudes regarding criminal justice issues.
Students must complete a series of scenarios to graduate, including investigating crimes such as burglaries or robberies, dealing with persons in mental health crisis, and conducting vehicle stops.
Some students in the program are already employed by an agency and attend the training to obtain their POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) certification. Others are self-sponsored, looking at employers that require the training prior to application.
Ben Clark and the Law Enforcement Program is the result of a partnership between MVC, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol, and Riverside County Probation Department. The Peace Officer Academy is the primary training facility for the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department (RSO), but other agencies also send recruits to the facility.
“RSO has an excellent reputation for its academies,” says Kristy Paine, Associate Professor of Administration of Justice at MVC. “In addition to training recruits for local police agencies, it draws large numbers of students from allied agencies outside of Riverside County such as the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Department of Justice, and city and county agencies from Inyo, Mono, and Imperial counties.”
Paine says that to ensure the best training, academy instructors come from diverse agencies. In addition to the Sheriff’s Department, instructors come from local police departments, the Department of Justice, the California Highway Patrol, the District Attorney’s Office, and myriad other agencies. By partnering with Moreno Valley College, the academy can provide industry-standard training and equipment.
For those who complete the rigorous training, employment opportunities are plentiful. According to Paine, job openings in the Inland Empire for law enforcement officers are projected at 579 openings per year through 2030. Nationally, police officer employment is expected to grow at a 3 percent rate until 2034 (bls.gov).
“What draws me to police work is the camaraderie, discipline, and the opportunity to help build a safer community,” says Argumedo, who hopes to be hired by the Riverside Police Department and work alongside their cold case unit after graduation.
In addition to contributing to community safety, the excitement of the job is also attractive, Paine explains. “Many are drawn to the varied, challenging, and exciting nature of the work,” she says. “No two days are the same. Law enforcement is rarely boring or monotonous.”
The career also offers job security, competitive salaries, and opportunities for professional growth and specialization. Paine says many departments now offer hiring bonuses and are improving work-life balance with alternative shift schedules, increased days off, and other benefits.
Othe programs offered through the Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center include corrections, public safety dispatch, and administration of justice.
Moreno Valley College also recently developed a bachelor’s degree in emergency management that is applicable for all the programs at Ben Clark. A crime and intelligence analysis program that supports the patrol and investigative units at law enforcement agencies has also been developed.
Other colleges in the region offering law enforcement academies include College of the Desert, Victor Valley College, and San Bernardino Valley College. Many other colleges in the region offer public safety courses.
For those who want to protect and serve, MVC and the Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center are connecting those ready for the challenge with top-notch training and unparalleled opportunity.