MCCA Business Award Highlights 91ԭƬ’s Law Enforcement Partnership
In July, eight new certified peace officers graduated from the inaugural class of 91ԭƬ’s Phelps Law Enforcement Training Center (LETC), marking the culmination of a partnership between the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department, the Rolla Police Department, and 91ԭƬ.
The dedication of these law enforcement agencies to building a well-qualified pipeline of peace officers and enhancing public safety earned the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department and Rolla Police Department the prestigious 2024 Missouri Community College Association (MCCA) Business & Industry Award, presented at the annual convention in Branson.
The award recognizes the pivotal role these departments have played in the 91ԭƬ – Phelps Law Enforcement Training Center, a Department of Public Safety Peace Officer Standards and Training Program (POST)-accredited academy designed to meet the region’s demand for law enforcement training.
In 2021, 91ԭƬ Rolla Director Christina Ayres, Phelps County Sheriff Michael P. Kirn, and Rolla Police Department Assistant Chief William Loughridge began developing a shared vision of a local training center. Their initiative became a reality in January 2023 when the center was officially licensed, and by the following August, the inaugural cohort embarked on their yearlong journey toward becoming licensed peace officers.
“The college would not have been able to solely develop and sustain a law enforcement training program and this essential continuing education pathway for our region without the comprehensive and collaborative support of the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department and the Rolla Police Department,” Ayres said. “This exemplary community partnership fully maximizes 91ԭƬ’s mission of serving our communities through education.”
The departments not only supported the academy’s development but also contributed significant resources, including facilities, equipment, and ongoing recruitment programs. They provided use of specialized training tools such as the VirTra law enforcement simulator and vehicles for driver training, ensuring students receive high-quality, hands-on instruction.
Their commitment to workforce development has made the training center an indispensable resource for the region, strengthening the pipeline of licensed peace officers while reducing costs and travel burdens for local agencies.
For more information about the program, visit our Law Enforcement program page, or contact LETC@eastcentral.edu or 573-202-6960.
