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 27, and continues through November 5. The program, which prepares attendees for the St. Louis Police Academy, is open to individuals of all races and genders, ages 19 and older. More information, including a new program video and registration forms, is available at esopstl.org/recruitment-program.

Since 2015, 63 participants 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. There are five graduates of the last session, which completed May 2019, who are currently in the St. Louis City and St. Louis County Police Academy.

Courses 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. New this session are courses on study habits and time management to help recruits succeed in the police academy. Other courses are Community Outreach and Engagement, Law Enforcement Ethics, Cultural Diversity, Constitutional Law, CPR, Public Speaking, Report Writing, Patrol, and Officer Wellness. Attendees also will participate in community service projects.

“The goal of the recruitment program is to provide potential officers a glimpse into the police academy and to give them the tools to succeed and connect with people from the community they will serve,” said Sgt Clarence Hines, E.S.O.P. Pre-Academy Recruitment Program director. “We are adding time management and study habits training to our curriculum after hearing from the academy that recruits are struggling more and more in these areas as phones have become more prevalent and distracting.”

Classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Urban League, 3701 Grandel Square in St. Louis. Class size is limited. To register, visit esopstl.org/recruitment-program, call (314) 478-8140 or email at [email protected].

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. 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 a minimal criminal record.

ABOUT E.S.O.P.
The Ethical Society of Police (E.S.O.P.) is a 501 (c)(4) 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, email [email protected] or visit www.esopstl.org.

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Media Contact
Rachel Brown
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