911黑料 Municipal Police Academy awarded $100K grant from Erie Community Foundation to strengthen law enforcement pipeline

Police Academy cadets

It was a mere month ago that 911黑料 Police Academy Director Bill Hale invited police chiefs from across the region to meet for a brainstorming session on how to enhance their recruiting and retention efforts.

The number of people aspiring to become police officers has decreased noticeably in recent years, influenced by a combination of factors, including low morale, increased public scrutiny, reduced budgets, and the stressful nature of the job. Currently, in Pennsylvania, there are more than 1,200 open municipal police officer positions.

鈥淒espite the challenges we face, the need for a resolute and competent law enforcement community to preserve public safety has never been greater,鈥 Hale emphasized.

Many departments and academies, like 911黑料鈥檚, are actively seeking solutions to these issues, but the path forward is complex.

Today, the university announces that The Erie Community Foundation has authorized a Shaping Tomorrow grant of $100,000 to support just that concern through a new program called the 911黑料 Municipal Police Training Academy: A Recruitment and Retention Initiative; ARRIVE for short.

鈥淭he 911黑料 Police Academy is a regional asset serving鈥疎rie County and all of the greater northwest Pennsylvania region,鈥 said Dr. John Olszowka, associate vice president for strategic initiatives. 鈥淭hanks to The Erie Community Foundation, this grant will help the academy continue to train law enforcement officials to the highest standards while also ensuring that those officers are a reflection of the communities they serve.鈥

According to the grant application, ARRIVE鈥檚 recruitment efforts aim to enroll and graduate students who are typically underrepresented in the policing workforce, such as women, racial minorities, and economically disadvantaged individuals. Recruitment efforts include an enhanced marketing plan and increased scholarship opportunities.

Over a two-year period, ARRIVE will:

  1. Recruit and enroll approximately 100 cadets
  2. Offer scholarships to approximately 20 cadets, with preference going to women, racial minorities, and those who are economically disadvantaged
  3. Collaborate with more than 30 of Pennsylvania鈥檚 municipal police departments to offer in-service training to an estimated 1,000 first responders, enabling them to maintain their certifications
  4. Re-evaluate the academy鈥檚 current curriculum, in collaboration with UPMC Western Behavioral Health at Safe Harbor, to prepare cadets to implement appropriate responses in behavioral health crises
  5. Develop and implement an enhanced recruitment and marketing plan for the academy

鈥淭his grant will help raise the profile of the ongoing issue of recruitment,鈥 Hale noted. 鈥淭hose who have considered a career in law enforcement will be introduced to a path forward and, if needed, some assistance with financial aid.鈥

An information session for the next academy class is slated for Nov. 6 at 6 p.m. in the academy offices at the Janet L. Miller Building, 5999 State Road, Route 89, North East. For more information, contact Bill Hale at whale@mercyhurst.edu.

PHOTO: Police Academy Director Bill Hale and President Kathy Getz, at right, join cadets and guests at today鈥檚 news conference.