Since 1978 the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Academy, in partnership with JCC, has offered a unique program to those interested in careers as police officers. The “pre-service” training program provides successful graduates with 37 college credits and a certificate of completion from the New York State Certified Basic Police Training Course, which is a legal requirement for municipal police officers in New York state.

One of the benefits of this program is that most police agencies in New York state or any state honoring New York State Certified Basic Training Courses, may hire a graduate of the Sheriff’s Academy program and be able to put their new employee to work immediately with little additional local training.

The fall Basic Police Academy begins in August each year on the Jamestown Campus. This full-time (35 hours per week, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.) training experience continues until mid-January, followed by 160 hours of field training. Graduation generally occurs in May.

The program is operated in a two-semester system. Upon completion of 37 college credits, a student will earn a certificate in law enforcement technology from JCC. All credits earned in the certificate can be applied toward the A.A.S.-Individual Studies.