Sikeston DPS graduates three from SEMO Law Enforcement Academy
CAPE GIRARDEAU — Thursday evening the Southeast Missouri State University Law Enforcement Academy held its 106th Commencement ceremony and 17 men and women from the Southeast Missouri area endured a rigorous 22 week, 800 hour, training course before becoming POST Certified in the State of Missouri.
Along with commencement exercise, the Southeast Missouri Law Enforcement Academy celebrated the retirement of its founder Dr. Michael Brown.
Brown founded the SEMO police academy in 1987 and has been associated with it in some capacity for the past 34 years. He served as the academies director for 25 years; he spent the rest of his time as an adjunct instructor. Brown has been the largest law enforcement influence in the Southeast Missouri region, training thousands of law enforcement officers over his time. Bobby Bollinger will continue Brown’s legacy as the current Southeast Missouri Law Enforcement Academy director.
The Sikeston Department of Public Safety will add three of the graduates to its roster for the 106th recruit class: Christopher Cooper, Timothy Merrick and Rachel Umphlett.
Cooper, 33, is a life long resident of Sikeston and a 2006 graduate of Sikeston High School. Cooper lives in Sikeston with his wife and five children.
Merrick 29, is also from Sikeston and is a 2011 graduate of Solid Rock Christian Academy. He currently serves in the Missouri National Guard.
Umphlett 32, is originally from Southern California but relocated to Southeast Missouri where she graduated from Jackson High School in 2007. Umphlett lives in Jackson with her two fur-babies Nala and BoBo.
All three were sponsored by the City of Sikeston, Department of Public Safety to attend the SEMO Law Enforcement academy. By being sponsored, these applicants academy cost were covered by the Sikeston Department of Public Safety.
Sikeston Department of Public Safety is currently seeking applications for the position of Public Safety Officer. Anyone interested in applying should stop by Sikeston City Hall (105 East Center, Sikeston Missouri) and pick up an application. Applications are also available on our website, https://www.sikeston.org/. If you have any questions you are encouraged to call Sikeston City Hall (573) 471-2512.
For questions regarding the SEMO Police Academy please contact them at (573) 651-2020 or visit their website, https://semo.edu/law-enforcement-academy/.