Ten police officers are now mandated after recently graduating from Reinhardt Universitys Police Academy. Several leave the Academy with employment opportunities at locations such as the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety, the Gwinnett County Sheriffs Office and the Winder Police Department.

The Police Academy at Reinhardt University is certified by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) and meets at the North Fulton Center in Alpharetta. The Academy boasts a 96% employment rate, based on 2015 graduates. In 2014, 89% of its graduates had employment secured by graduation.

The high employment rate of Academy graduates is partly attributed to the Academys entrance standards and rigorous pre-service screening process. All POST-certified academies require pre-service applicants to undergo a background investigation, interview process, fingerprinting and medical evaluation, said Police Academy Director Trey Drawdy. Reinhardt Academy students are held to a higher standard in that they must also meet University admissions requirements, undergo psychological screening and submit to a polygraph examination before a final admissions decision is made.
We are an evening and weekend Academy that allows individuals to pursue certification in a non-traditional format, Drawdy continued. Our unique scheduling is attractive to individuals who are seeking a pathway into law enforcement, but cannot leave their full-time jobs to attend training on a full-time schedule. In addition, Academy students earn academic credits towards the award of a college degree through the program.

Those who choose to pursue a four-year degree are appropriately guided to one of Reinhardts advantage degree completion programs. Because the program is tied to academic programming, qualified individuals may utilize financial aid to assist with tuition costs.

Applications are being accepted for spring 2017. For more information, visit Reinhardt.edu/working_adults/Public-Safety-Institute/Police-Academy.