Continuing education keeps New Madrid’s officers well prepared

NEW MADRID, Mo. - For police officers in Missouri, the end of the year always means that it’s time to ensure continuing education requirements have been met.

The Missouri Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) program requires that all police officers in the state complete a minimum of 24 continuing education hours every calendar year. Of those 24 hours, the subjects of racial profiling, implicit bias, de-escalation, and mental wellness must be included.

All of our department’s officers keep current on continuing education through training both inside and outside our agency. Progress is monitored through the state’s Continuing Law Enforcement Education’s tracking system.

In addition to keeping our current employees trained, over the last two years we have worked to contract new employees who graduate the police academy to keep them here longer. New hires are contracted for a three-year term in exchange for academy tuition reimbursement, and this has dramatically slowed the officer turnover rate.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a police officer anywhere in Missouri, you may be eligible for the state’s new “Missouri Blue Scholarship.” There is a short online application process for the scholarship and if it is awarded may cover the entire cost of a six-month police academy.

As far as demand by employers, there has never been a better time to get into law enforcement and jobs are readily available throughout the state.