Rogers State To Offer Classes To Help With Law Enforcement Staff Shortage

Agencies all over Green Country are struggling to find people willing to go into law enforcement.

That's one of the reasons Rogers State is offering classes starting this fall to get ready people to get their foot in the door with law enforcement jobs.

Sheriff's offices said this is a good way to get high school students interested in a career in law enforcement they can start right after high school.

The classes are designed to show students what it's like to be a corrections officer and work in a detention center, which is often the first step in working up to a job as a deputy or officer.

"For Rogers County, we hire a lot of our deputies from the jail,” said Jon Sappington, the Undersheriff for the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office. “It gives an opportunity to kind of evaluate them, see their strengths, their weaknesses, let us train them a little bit, and see their character."

For high school students, taking these classes can get them a job faster.

"We start hiring at 18, but when you're a junior or you're a senior and you're working that direction, why not better to essentially go ahead and have those classes in place, make that application, and go ahead and start that career and at least start learning and start having some hands-on experiences," said Sappington.

Students will learn about corrections, the justice system, and be able to tour the jail.

Because of tuition reimbursements and grant money, students can go through the program for free.

"Not only can a high school student go through this process tuition free, with the scholarship money, the books and any associated fees will also be taken care of," said Curt Sparling, an Associate Professor at Rogers State University.

Sparling said these classes also count toward a degree. He said this education is vital to what law enforcement does each day.

"Education and law enforcement goes hand in hand,” said Sparling. “They are law enforcement professionals, that require a professional education and Rogers State University is here to provide those services."

The classes will be offered here starting in the fall semester and the classes can hold up to 25 students.