2020-21 Unit Plan
Law Enforcement Academy

Mission Statement

The Butte College Public Safety Education & Training Center educates and trains students to serve and protect the public in a highly competent and professional manner.

Program Description

Courses presented under the auspices of the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) are listed as AJLE (Administration of Justice � Law Enforcement) courses in the College Schedule.  They include the Regular Basic Law Enforcement Academy in intensive format and �Advanced Officer� courses, which are also referred to as Perishable Skills training, for in-service peace officers. They have included the Regular Basic Law Enforcement Academy with Fish and Game Emphasis, and the Regular Basic Law Enforcement Academy with State Parks emphasis. Combined, the AJLE programs generate approximately 350 FTE.  

Completion of the programs in this unit allow for students to earn the following:

1.   Certificate of Achievement - All academies.
2.   AS Degree - Law Enforcement - All academies.
3.   Certificate of Course Completion - All academies
4.   Certificates of Course Completion for the Public Safety Dispatcher Course, 832 Arrest Module Course, and 832 Firearms Module Course. 

All pedagogical caps have been reviewed and are appropriate.

Student Learning/Administrative Unit Outcomes

The para-military and highly structured nature of the 23-week Butte College Law Enforcement Academy program provides opportunities to assess the knowledge and ability of each student on a daily basis. Each recruit is assigned a Recruit Training Officer throughout the course of the program who serves as a mentor, assessor, and counselor. Each recruit is constantly evaluated on the following 11 core competencies as a means of assessing their readiness to enter the law enforcement career field.

Police Vehicle Operations
Conflict Resolution
Use of Force
Local Procedures
Leadership
Problem Solving/Decision Making
Legal Authority/Individual Rights
Officer Safety
Communication
Ethics
Stress Tolerance and Emotional Maturity.

Standards/Goals for Student Achievement (Instruction Departments)

The stated mission of the academy program is to prepare students mentally, morally, emotionally, and physically to advance into a law enforcement Field-Training Program and assume the responsibilities and execute the duties of a peace officer.

The current academy program retention rate is approximately 85%. Employment following graduation is an ultimate measure of student success. Employment in the law enforcement career field is currently at an all-time high, and students are recruited by a large number of law enforcement agencies as students progress through the program. Although some students are not selected for employment because of background disqualifyers, the majority of graduating students gain pathway into the career field.

The academy program has experienced a continuing positive success rate due to labor market changes in the career field. More and more law enforcement agencies are struggling to fill vacant departmental positions, which results in agencies sponsoring recruits into the academy. For example, 35 of the 43 recruits currently enrolled in the academy program have been hired and then sponsored into the academy. This leaves only eight self-sponsored recruits entering the academy program.

Graduating students earn 35.5 units of credit toward an AS degree in Law Enforcement. This high number of units provides each student an excellent opportunity to achieve the degree. The units are not transferrable, and the pathway of the program leads more toward immediate employment rather than continuing education. Graduating recruits also receive Certificates of Achievement and Certificates of Course Completion.

Standards/Goals for Student Achievement (All Other Departments)

Strategic Direction

The law enforcement academy program consistently supports the college in meeting its Strategic Direction and Prioity Themes.  The entire effort of our program has been focused on meeting enrollment targets throughout the years, by providing a direct pathway to employment in law enforcement.  Our department consistently fills each academy class to capacity, thereby demonstrating stable enrollment and helping students achieve their goals.  Also, the nature of the academy program strengthens the professional development of each student by focusing on core competencies to help them meet that goal.

Program Review

The department is currently completing its Two-Year Review for CTE Programs.

Department Goals

1. Maintain professional relationship with the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, by continually reviewing and complying with regulatory requirements.

2. Maintain professional relationships with California Fish and Wildlife and California State Parks leadership, by cooperative inter-agency interaction.

3. Maintain professional relationships with the various law enforcement agencies that we serve, by enhanced communication and response to their needs.

4. Maintain program enrollment and current attrition rates.

Future Development Strategies

Strategy 1 - Maintaining Currency and Standards

The Butte College Law Enforcement Academy maintains a commitment to ensuring its accredidation with the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training by complying with all applicable regulations and guidelines. We will remain dedicated to the education and training of staff to ensure that students receive the most thorough and contemporary training.

Initiatives

Enhancing a Culture of Completion and Goal Achievement
Supporting Student, Faculty and Staff Success
Maximizing Resources to Support Student Learning
Enhancing a Culture of Equity and Inclusiveness

Supporting Rationale

It is critical that our students receive the very best law enforcement training available to ensure their success and safety upon entering the career field.

Supporting Rationale Alignment
Supports the College's Strategic Direction and Priorities: No
Supports Program Review Recommendations: Yes
Supports Course level SLOs: No
Supports PLOs: No
Supports ILO - Think Critically: No
Supports ILO - Communicate Competently: No
Supports ILO - Engage Collaboratively: No
Supports ILO - Work Effectively: No
Supports Meeting Vision for Success Goal - Credentials: No
Supports Meeting Vision for Success Goal - Transfer: No
Supports Meeting Vision for Success Goal - Time to Degree: No
Supports Meeting Vision for Success Goal - Employment in field of Study: Yes
Supports Meeting Vision for Success Goal - Reducing Equity Gaps: No

Strategy 2 - Maintaining Resources and Equipment

Funding for the routine maintenance and replacement of key resources and equipment will continue to be sought through District and outside sources.

Initiatives

Supporting Student, Faculty and Staff Success
Maximizing Resources to Support Student Learning

Supporting Rationale

The Law Enforcement Academy Program is large in scope and complex in nature. Emergency vehicles, firearms, gas masks, leather gear, ballistic vests, hand-held radios, etc. are but a few of the many items used in support of the critical training that is provided to ensure student success and safety. This equipment requires ongoing maintenance and frequent replacement to ensure the continuing credibility of the program.

Strategy 3 - Meeting Facility Needs

Due to the manipulative nature of the training presented in the Law Enforcement Academy Program, various facilities are used throughout the campus. The Public Safety Training Grounds are used for physical training, arrest and control exercises, crime scene scenario practice, emergency vehicle operations, etc. The off-site firearms range is used exclusively for handgun and shotgun training. Additionally, many other locations around campus are used during demonstration of various learning domains within the academy program.

Initiatives

Enhancing a Culture of Completion and Goal Achievement
Supporting Student, Faculty and Staff Success
Maximizing Resources to Support Student Learning

Supporting Rationale

All of these facilities require ongoing maintenance, repair, or replacement to provide for a safe training environment.

Strategy 4 - Improving Quality of Service to Students and the Public

The quality of the service that is provided to the Law Enforcement Academy Recruits is made possible through competent and professional staff members. The recruitment and hiring of our instructors, recruits training officers, coordinators and administrative staff is critical to the success of the program. Additionally, ongoing training of these individuals is essentual to ensuring the requisite competency and professionalism.

Initiatives

Enhancing a Culture of Completion and Goal Achievement
Supporting Student, Faculty and Staff Success
Maximizing Resources to Support Student Learning

Supporting Rationale

Providing adequate program support is critical to our continuing accreditation by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. This includes adminstrative staff, coordinators, and recruit training officers. Attendance at specific meetings with P.O.S.T. and allied agencies, along with enrolling in career-specific training, will enhance the credibility of our program and staff.

Supporting Rationale Alignment
Supports the College's Strategic Direction and Priorities: No
Supports Program Review Recommendations: No
Supports Course level SLOs: No
Supports PLOs: No
Supports ILO - Think Critically: No
Supports ILO - Communicate Competently: No
Supports ILO - Engage Collaboratively: Yes
Supports ILO - Work Effectively: Yes
Supports Meeting Vision for Success Goal - Credentials: No
Supports Meeting Vision for Success Goal - Transfer: No
Supports Meeting Vision for Success Goal - Time to Degree: No
Supports Meeting Vision for Success Goal - Employment in field of Study: Yes
Supports Meeting Vision for Success Goal - Reducing Equity Gaps: No

Requested Non-Financial Resources

None

Current Financial Resources

The Law Enforcement Academy is supported primarily by the General Fund, with some additional support coming from student material fees. Additionally, Perkins Funds and the Instructional Equipment Block Grant have been utilized to to rectify safety issues and replace critically important equipment.

In relation to the Fish and Wildlife Academy and the State Parks Academy, State funds from the two departments also support academy activities and instruction.

Augmentation Requests

Original Priority	Program, Unit, Area	Resource Type	Account Number	Object Code	One Time Augment	Ongoing Augment
Description	Supporting Rationale		Potential Alternative Funding Sources		Prioritization Criteria
1	PSETC - Law Enforcement Academies, Fire Academy, AJ Program, FSC Program	Personnel			$0.00	$32,016.00
Program Support - .5 Secretary I	The workload in the PSETC has reached a point where the two existing full time Administrative Secretaries are each responsible for three academies a year, miscellaneous courses, and an academic discipline (either AJ or FSC). The department has come to rely heavily on Student Assistants to perform functions that far exceed what is normally expected of Student Assistants in other departments.		Career and Technical Education - Perkins		Maintaining ongoing operations at current levels (excludes grants) Meeting Vision for Success Goals Meeting student achievement goals (Vision for Success Goals) Improving Processes: a. Data and Reporting; b. Internal Communications Enrollment growth and improvement in student outcomes and student equity
2	PSETC - AJLE - Law Enforcement Academies	Equipment	11-000-511-1-210550	56410	$18,700.00	$0.00
Academy Training and Testing Equipment	The following equipment is needed to maintain the quality of the training that is provided to Law Enforcement Academy recruits. Priority is as follows: Replacement Airsoft Holsters (60) - $6,000; Gas Mask Filters (60) - $1,700; Replacement Airsoft Pistols (60) - $7,000; Replacement Defensive Tactics Combatives Suits (2) - $4,000		Strong Workforce		Maintaining ongoing operations at current levels (excludes grants) Meeting Vision for Success Goals Meeting student achievement goals (Vision for Success Goals)
3	PSETC - Law Enforcement Academies, Fire Academy, AJ Program, FSC Program	Operating Expenses			$0.00	$6,000.00
Travel	Travel by PSETC staff to attend mandatory meetings and training opportunities is critical to improve the overall delivery of curriculum for our students.		Career and Technical Education - Perkins		Maintaining ongoing operations at current levels (excludes grants) Meeting Vision for Success Goals Addressing Program Review Recommendations Meeting student achievement goals (Vision for Success Goals) Improving Processes: a. Data and Reporting; b. Internal Communications Strengthening Professional Development
4	PSETC - Law Enforcement Academies, Fire Academy, AJ Program, FSC Program	Operating Expenses			$0.00	$1,500.00
Guest Speakers	Funding guest speakers to impart subject matter expertise adds a realistic and contemporary enhancement to our various program presentations.		Career and Technical Education - Perkins		Meeting Vision for Success Goals Meeting student achievement goals (Vision for Success Goals) Meeting enrollment targets
5	PSETC - AJLE - Law Enforcement Academies	Equipment	11-000-511-1-210550		$12,000.00	$0.00
Relocate Academy Radio Equipment	In prior years, the radio equipment used in the law enforcement and fire academy programs was upgraded to extend coverage throughout the campus. Radio repeaters and antennas were installed on the Learning Resource Center building. However, this location has proven to be inadequate to provide optimal coverage. An outside company was hired to diagnose our system, and provide recommendations to remedy the problem. They recommended that the repeaters and antennas be relocated to the AHPS building, and the antenna be raised.		Career and Technical Education - Perkins		Maintaining ongoing operations at current levels (excludes grants) Meeting Vision for Success Goals Meeting student achievement goals (Vision for Success Goals)
6	PSETC - AJLE - Law Enforcement Academies	Facilities	11-000-511-1-210550	56000	$25,000.00	$0.00
Scenario Village Improvements	The Scenario Village project has been funded with Measure A funds and is scheduled to be completed during the 2020/21 FY. The project provides for five portable buildings to accommodate a variety of different scenario exercises. However, the buildings do not include interior walls. This request is to purchase 8' high movable partitions (walls) that can be configured as needed depending on the need. This will allow flexibility to layout rooms to meet current and future needs.		Career and Technical Education - Perkins		Addressing Health/Life/Safety issues Maintaining ongoing operations at current levels (excludes grants) Meeting Vision for Success Goals Addressing Program Review Recommendations Meeting student achievement goals (Vision for Success Goals)
7	PSETC - AJLE - Law Enforcement Academies	Facilities	11-000-511-1-210550		$10,000.00	$0.00
Firearms Range Facility Repairs	The Butte College Firearms Range Facility is located approximately 18 miles southwest of the college campus on Wilbur Road. The facility is leased through the Department of Water Resources. Although funding has been identified to construct an on-campus indoor firearms range via Measure J, that project is not scheduled for another 8 years. The existing structure at the Wilbur Road facility is in poor repair. The interior needs to be repainted, and students are currently exposed to the weather during training, often in extreme heat or rain. A carport-type structure is needed to provide students with suitable cover.		Career and Technical Education - Perkins		Addressing Health/Life/Safety issues Maintaining ongoing operations at current levels (excludes grants) Meeting student achievement goals (Vision for Success Goals)
8	PSETC - AJLE Law Enforcement Academies	Equipment	11-000-511-1-210550		$23,250.00	$0.00
PSETC Office Update	The PSETC front office is the point of first contact for members of the public, law enforcement agency personnel, and Butte College students interested in entering the law enforcement and fire career fields. As a result, it is important that the office is presented in a professional manner. The office furniture in the reception area needs to be upgraded for a more suitable appearance. Staff standing stations provide employee comfort and reduces potential for injuries. The existing refrigerator is approximately 16 years old and needs replacing. The refrigerator does not regulate temperature effectively resulting in the occasional freezing of food in the refrigerator compartment. Furniture - $4750; Refrigerator - $2000; Standing Stations (11) - 4 in the RTO's office, 2 in the law coordinator's office, and 5 in the fire coordinator's/supervisor's office - $16,500		Strong Workforce		Maintaining ongoing operations at current levels (excludes grants) Addressing Health/Life/Safety issues Improving Processes: a. Data and Reporting; b. Internal Communications