We are pleased that you are considering applying to our Academy. Our purpose is to develop and train men and women of character to serve as members of America's thin blue line. For over 40 years we have educated, trained, and inspired recruits for a lifetime of police service. Our mission today remains the same. Recruits are challenged mentally and physically in an environment which instills a commitment to the highest moral and ethical standards.

Accordingly, you will receive quality training to prepare you for a career as a police officer. Your experience as a recruit will be exciting and challenging. When you complete the course you will experience a sense of personal satisfaction with your accomplishments. We prepare men and women to serve the citizens of our communities with commitment and pride. Best wishes for success as you begin the process of earning a place among the elite men and women of the Eastern Missouri Police Academy. 

Sincerely,  

Dr. Thomas D. Leasor, Executive Director

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Training: The process of becoming a police officer is demanding, but it isn't impossible for anyone who can meet the basic qualifications and is motivated to be successful. More than 90% of those attending the Academy complete the program and go on to serve as a professional law enforcement officer. Graduating from our Academy will provide an open door to a lifetime of opportunity to serve the public. Once you are qualified and earn a position with a law enforcement agency, you may become qualified for assignment to a special unit such as traffic accident investigator, narcotics/vice agent, K-9 officer, detective, SWAT member, DARE instructor, or school resource officer. No matter what you do in your law enforcement career we will provide you with the training and experience that will prepare you for success.

Staff & Instructors: Our staff and cast of instructors are an integrated group of working police officers, lawyers, public employees, and civilians who support our atmosphere of professionalism and high standards of ethics and integrity. All of our instructors are state certified and highly qualified to instruct the subjects to which they are assigned. Most of them have full time positions in the criminal justice system and are more than able to provide the vital link between the academic and the real world. They provide real life experiences to the classroom and make the learning process exciting. The resources we employ in the classroom create an enhanced learning environment for our recruits. Recruits are introduced to the world of personal discipline which requires the highest sense of commitment and dedication. The instructors and staff are dedicated to ensuring that our recruits are prepared to take their place on the front lines of our communities to protect our freedoms and serve our citizens. 

Curriculum: Our curriculum is based on two concepts. The first is our mandate from the State Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST). POST establishes the basic level, 600 contact hours, of training required to meet the minimum standards for certification as a Class A Peace Officer. The second mandate is from the Academy Board of Directors. The Board is made up of a group of law enforcement professionals- Chiefs of Police and County Sheriff, who demand the highest standards of the Academy. They provide the direction for supplemental training, 400 contact hours, which they believe is needed to better prepare the recruits for a position in the law enforcement community. 

 The various blocks of subject material include, but are not limited to: 

Legal Studies  

Ethics & Professionalism 

 Patrol Procedures

 Domestic Violence 

 Firearms 

 Juvenile Justice 

 Criminal Investigations 

 Traffic Control 

 Emergency Driver Training 

 Hazardous Material I.D. 

 Defensive Tactics 

Fair and Impartial Policing

Jail Procedures

Tactical Communications

Additionally, all recruits are trained and certified in the following specific skill areas:

Collapsible Baton (ASP) 

Patrol Rifle

TASER

Crisis Intervention (CIT)

First Aid/First Responder

DWI Enforcement (Breathalyzer) 

Oleoresin Capsicum Spray (MACE) 

40 Caliber Semi Automatic Pistol 

Shotgun 

Pressure Point Control Tactics 

1000 Hour Basic Training Course.

We offer two basic types of classes, a day time class and a night time clases.  

Day Course: Meets Monday through Friday with classes beginning at 7:50 am and concluding at 5:00 pm. This course of training will take just over six months to complete. 

Evening Course: Meets Monday through Thursday evenings with classes starting at 5:50 pm and concluding at 10:00 pm. Additionally, recruits are required to attend classes every other Saturday with classes starting at 7:50 am and ending at 5:00 pm. We provide this option for those individuals who must maintain a full-time job while attending the academy. This course of training will take just over one year to complete.  

Admissions: To become a recruit at our Academy, one must meet or exceed our entry standards. If you possess a good moral character, adhere to the highest level of ethical conduct, and maintain a strong sense of integrity you may qualify to attend. 

Our minimum requirements are: 

 Be 21 years of age by graduation  

 Be a natural born or naturalized citizen of the United States 

 Possess a High School diploma or a GED 

 Have limited traffic violations 

 Have no felony convictions or misdemeanor convictions involving moral turpitude 

 No DWI convictions within the past three years 

 Pass a written Aptitude Test 

 Pass a Physical Agility Test 

 Entrance PT STANDARDS

-25 pushups (no time limit)

-29 situps (1 minute or less)

-1.5 mile run (16:28 or less)

Exit  PT STANDARDS

-28 pushups (no time limit)

-35 situps (1 minute or less)

-1.5 mile run (14:36 or less)

 Pass the Director’s Interview 

Our admission requirements are based on what is mandated by State law and our experience with police recruits. They are designed to assist us to determine who can meet our standards and be successful at the Academy. We are attentive to the needs of the law enforcement community and the desires of each individual attempting to gain entry into the profession. The selection process assures us that all who gain entry are more than capable of completing the course of study.