Hennepin Tech Receives $1M in Federal Funding To Help Train Law Enforcement Officers
Hennepin Technical College, one of the only places in the state where students can earn an associate’s degree in peace officer training, recently received federal funding to help boost its program.
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, DFL-Minnesota, and U.S. Rep. Dean Phillip, DFL-3rd District, helped secure the $1 million in grant funding.
Hennepin Tech leaders say $1 million in federal grants will help them make more equipment and training available to students who are training to be law enforcement officers.
Educators at the Brooklyn Park campus said the money will help them continue to provide equipment and programs that are as current as possible, meaning students who want jobs in law enforcement can get experience using what professionals use on the job.
“We’re also going to use a portion of the grant to help alleviate the student costs, because it is a large cost for the student entering the program,” said Academic Dean Cara Garrett. “To be able to offer them some equipment that they are loaning from us instead of having to purchase on their own will also hopefully open up accessibility for different students to attend the program that may have not considered it before.”
Garrett said since the associate’s program was offered starting last spring, more than 100 students have applied to enroll. She said 50 students are currently enrolled.
