Bowling Green Police Department prepares for law enforcement academy

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Bowling Green Police Department is taking the next steps toward its newly approved law enforcement academy.

Bowling Green Law Enforcement Academy Director Charles Casey said they are diligently working to put together a curriculum and schedule for their recruits.

Only four other law enforcement academies are in operation in the state with Bowling Green’s being the fifth.

Officials at the department say those other four academies are working with Bowling Green Police to help them construct a successful learning environment for their recruits.

“We were involved in making history [Thursday]. We will be the first POPS certified, non-grandfathered, academy in the history of Kentucky,” said Casey.

The agency already has four full time trainers that will be teaching recruits, in addition to the classroom and training space within the police department’s headquarters needed to certify future officers.

“We are going to be working between now and June to finish up the class structure, the class schedule, all of those things,” said Deputy Chief Penny Bowles.

Recruits will still have to attend the academy in Richmond for one week to receive breathalyzer training.