​ On Wednesday, August 15, 2012, recruits became graduates, dreams will became a reality and citizens throughout Arizona will be a little bit safer. The day marked the end of more than 800 hours of Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) Law Enforcement Training Academy (LETA) study.

The journey to graduation began a little over 10 months ago at CGCC’s Williams Campus. Recruits, as students are called until they graduate, completed 44 hours of criminal law, 77 hours of firearms instruction, 52 hours of defensive tactics, 86 hours of physical conditioning, 35 hours of report writing, and 24 hours of first aid courses. In addition, recruits ran more than 200 miles, and performed hundreds of pushups, sit-ups, pull-ups and other various exercises. Add to that, more than 1,400 rounds of ammunition shot during their firearms training, which included handguns, shotguns and rifles.

“CGCC’s Law Enforcement Training Academy is a tough program. From start to finish we typically lose about 58 percent of our recruits,” said Jon Terpay, director of CGCC’s Law Enforcement Training Academy and a 37-year law enforcement veteran. “The goal of becoming a certified law enforcement officer isn’t for everyone. However, for those who complete our program the reward is great and the opportunity to serve and give back to the community is unparalleled.”

Chandler-Gilbert Community College’s LETA is offered on the college’s Williams Campus and is one of 17 Arizona police training academies. The Academy is designed to provide police academy training that meets or exceeds the requirements of the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST) and to produce certified peace officers. In addition, it provides 30 college academic credit hours in Administration of Justice Studies, which may be applied toward an AJS certificate or degree. CGCC’s LETA program is unique in that students attend part-time and can remain employed while participating.

“Our students include people who want to serve the community, which includes everyone from students in their twenties to those currently employed fulltime, as well as those with families who are seeking a good career with benefits,” said Terpay. “Ninety percent of our graduates will find jobs in the Valley.”

The LETA program offers a schedule friendly to those currently employed in other fields. Recruits attend classes on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and all-day on Saturdays. The instructors, highly qualified law enforcement personnel from various law enforcement agencies throughout the Valley, discuss a wide range of topics and administer proficiency tests in those subjects. By the time recruit’s walk across the stage at graduation, they have passed 65 academic tests and a number of proficiency tests. Those tests include firearms, defensive tactics, baton, high-risk stops, field problems, crime-scene management, report writing, tactical driving and physical fitness.

“The LETA program was impressive, intense and an incredible experience that gave me the tools I needed to be successful in law enforcement,” said Arielle Cohen, a recent graduate now work with the Maricopa Police Department. “The instructors at LETA played such a huge role in the academy experience. Seeing the pride they have for their job and the passion they still have after more than 25 years of service makes you want to become an officer that much more.”