Recruits are currently attending the N.M.U. Police Academy, learning what it takes to be a police officer
MARQUETTE -- Thirty-three recruits are currently attending the N.M.U. Police Academy, learning what it takes to be a police officer.
Hattie Ohlert is one of only three females in this year's N.M.U.'s Police Academy, but she says that doesn't discourage her from keeping up with her 30 male classmates.
Ohlert says, "It's not about being a different gender than them, it's really more about hey, I'm a little bit different, but I'm just the same as you guys, I've got the same expectations and the same consequences of my actions."
The police academy lasts for 16 weeks and covers everything from physical training to defensive tactics. Once they've completed their courses, these recruits will have received more than 700 hours of instruction. The training is as much mental as it is physical, and it's very disciplined.
Instructor Lieutenant Ken Love says first and foremost, he teaches the recruits to learn respect for themselves and their fellow officers.
"You don't learn everything about being a police officer at the academy; you learn that when you get hired, but it sets the foundation for a good, quality career, a successful career in law enforcement," said Lt. Love.
Each day starts with regimented physical training followed by inspection and classes. Different defensive tactics are taught in the afternoon. Friday, the recruits learned about handcuffs.
Recruit Dustin Boyak says, "I thought it was going to be a lot more rigourous, but it's actually helping me a lot. I'm becoming more physically fit and I feel a lot better, like I'm not as tired all the time."
In order to qualify for the police academy, all recruits must have a two-year associate's degree in law enforcement.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWLUC