Police Academy Continues Growth And Success In Its Third Year
Posted February 6, 2025 at 11:41 amNow in its third year, the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Police Academy has showcased numerous strengths and continues to evolve, with further upgrades planned in the months ahead.
Cregg Dibert stepped into the role of Director after Dennis Miller’s retirement in 2024. Backed by 14 years of law enforcement experience and 15 years in education, Dibert is poised to build on the Academy’s esteemed reputation and lead it into a new chapter of excellence.
Since Penn Highlands took control of the Police Academy, 18 of 19 cadets were employed by police departments upon graduation, good for a 95 percent placement rate.
“It shows the impact the Police Academy is already having on the area,” Dibert stated. “We’re aiming to continue filling more vacancies in law enforcement. With us being a Community College, this is one of the most important things we do, by providing services to the community and making a direct impact.”
Director Cregg Dibert, Assistant Directors Cory Fairman and Kevin Gaudlip, and five instructors hailing from police departments around the Laurel Highlands are currently training the Police Academy’s third class, consisting of six cadets, ahead of their graduation in September.
Overall, the instructors at the Police Academy bring a wealth of experience, with a collective 209 years in law enforcement and 138 years dedicated to training the next generation of officers.
Cadets undergo 919 hours of instruction over 11 months, with 498 hours within a classroom and 421 hours of practical, hands-on training. To graduate, the cadets must pass 26 tests and complete eight real-life scenarios.
Academy officials are currently in the process of acquiring more updated equipment to enhance the curriculum, including headgear, boxing gloves, training weapons, and other safety equipment.
The Police Academy will expand its use of the state-of-the-art Use of Force Simulator, which features over 800 realistic scenarios of varying complexity. This advanced training tool is designed to equip cadets with practical experience and prepare them for real-world situations they may encounter on the job.
“We’re doing our best to enhance the many learning opportunities our cadets will have in the Academy,” Fairman stated. “How we present the information is up to the instructor, but we encourage them to see how they can make it more interesting and try to find as many creative ways as possible to engage the cadets in the activities.”
The Academy is currently accepting applications for its fourth class, which begins in September.