ST. LOUIS, MO – People interested in a career in law enforcement are invited to participate in the free Pre-Academy Recruitment Program sponsored by the Ethical Society of Police (E.S.O.P.). The next session of the 10-week course begins on Tuesday, August 21, and continues through October 25. Classes meet on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Classes will be held at the Urban League, 3701 Grandel Square in St. Louis. To register, call (314) 478-8140, email [email protected] or connect via Twitter at @ESOPStlRecruits.
The program, which prepares attendees for the St. Louis Police Academy, is open to individuals of all races and genders, age 19 and older. Classes on Community Service, Cultural Diversity, Public Speaking, Law Enforcement Ethics, Constitutional Law, Report Writing, and Officer Wellness will be taught by current and former St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) officers, including former graduates of the E.S.O.P. Pre-Academy Recruitment Program, and constitutional law attorneys. Attendees will also participate in community service projects.
The E.S.O.P. Pre-Academy Recruitment Program has been praised by the NAACP for its success in preparing diverse candidates for the police academy. Since 2015, 45 attendees have been hired as police recruits in training and civilian law enforcement employees by local law enforcement agencies, including the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, St. Louis County Police Department and the City of St. Louis. A total of 19 participants graduated from the last session, which completed in May. So far, eight have been hired or are in the process of being hired by local law enforcement departments.
Participation in the E.S.O.P. Police Pre-Academy Recruitment Program does not guarantee employment within the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. To become a police officer in Missouri, candidates must be at least 21 years old upon graduation from the Police Academy, a U.S. citizen with a high school diploma or GED, with minimal criminal record.
ABOUT E.S.O.P.
The Ethical Society of Police (E.S.O.P.) is an association of police officers, park rangers, and civilians that advocates for racial and gender equity in the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) and St. Louis County Police Department. The E.S.O.P. was founded in 1972 to address racial biases within law enforcement. The E.S.O.P. also works to improve community/police relations, develop policies and programs to reduce crime, elevate the status of minority civilians and police officers, encourage greater minority employment by law enforcement agencies, and increase professionalism in law enforcement. Membership is open to all races and includes nearly 300 law enforcement professionals employed by the City and County of St. Louis. For details, call (314) 690-3565 or visit www.esopinc.org.
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Media Contact
Rachel Brown
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