A new partnership between the University of North Georgia (UNG) Public Safety Academy and the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office will increase the number of law enforcement officers with a four-month advanced training.
"We have a four-year police academy at the University of North Georgia. We partnered with Forsyth County Sheriff's Office and developed a 16-week advanced training course," Dr. Butch Newkirk, Public Safety Academy director and professor of criminal justice, said. "It belongs to UNG, and the sheriff's deputies staff it."
Forsyth County Sheriff Ron Freeman said it "makes all the sense in the world" as UNG is the top recruiting source for his office, with roughly 70 members of his staff being UNG alumni.
"The idea behind this is 12 weeks is great, but, look at the nation, look at the crimes that are out there," Freeman said. "Don't we want the best trained officers out in the community? I wanted more for our police officers. I knew what UNG was turning out. Students were incredibly well-trained. It just made sense."
Attending the UNG Public Safety Academy of Forsyth County, the first class of cadets began training under the tutelage of Forsyth County Sheriff's deputies on Oct. 3. In addition to the customary 11 weeks of officer training, these individuals will graduate with five weeks of advanced training that would normally be obtained further into their careers: precision immobilization technique maneuvers, mental health, critical incidents, and Brazilian...
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