Professional Law Enforcement Officer, AAS (Owens Code: PLEO)

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This program will allow students to complete the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) as part of their associate degree. 

Approximately half of the degree will be the academy and the other half will be composed of basic and general education courses as well as some fundamental criminal justice courses.

This will position these students to enter the law enforcement field with an associate degree and/or to continue on to pursue a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or a related field.

This program also affords current and recent graduates of Ohio Peace Officer Training Academies to return to school and acquire an associate degree.

While not all area law enforcement agencies require an associate or bachelor’s degree for hire, some do.

Founded in 1970, the Ohio Basic Peace Officer Training Academy at Owens Community College is offered in cooperation with the Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission.

Police Academy students take courses in patrol operations, firearms, defensive tactics and criminal investigation using modern, high-tech police equipment.

Students also receive expert instruction from local police officers, sheriff’s deputies and corrections officers, as well as state and federal agents.

Successful graduates of the Academy portion (semesters 3 and 4) are eligible to take the Ohio Basic Peace Officer Certification Examination.