Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)

Program Description

This police academy certificate program exceeds the Colorado Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) requirements for peace officer entry level training. The individual training requirements for arrest control, law enforcement driving, and firearms are included in the program. Successful completion of all academic and skills training are required to take the CO POST Certification Exam. Students enrolled in the program will earn 31 credit hours that may be applied towards an associate’s or Bachelor of Applied Science degree at Colorado Mesa University. This is a physically and academically rigorous 16-week program that requires full time participation and one hundred percent attendance during the weeks of enrollment. Instruction runs Monday through Friday with some Saturdays and Sundays and are typically 10–12-hour days. Some evening instruction is required.

Special Requirements

The program is not an open enrollment and requires a separate application to the academy. The application process for the Western Colorado Peace Officers Academy (WCPOA) is competitive and students are selected to attend by the academy director. Students applying to the POST program must undergo comprehensive screening and evaluation that includes (but is not limited to) interviews, reference check, background check, submission of fingerprints to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, as well as drug, personality, medical, and physical fitness testing. Additionally, criteria such as drug use (including marijuana), criminal record, driving, employment, military service and academic history are all reviewed. Agency sponsored students have priority seating. Second priority seating is reserved for CMU students completing a degree in Criminal Justice that the WCPOA is part of the required course work (application is still required).

Integrity: Integrity is a fundamental necessity for a career in law enforcement. All application materials require truthful disclosure and accuracy. Falsification and/or omission of fact or information made by an applicant may be sufficient grounds for rejection to the WCPOA. If discovered after admission, a cadet is subject to immediate dismissal from the WCPOA, and sponsoring agency.

Applications: Applications shall be complete, legible (typed), and accurate to be considered for attendance at the WCPOA. Applications not in compliance with the standard are subject to removal from consideration. Late applications will not be considered for enrollment into the WCPOA. Applications must be received within the following dates:

• Fall Semester Academy Session - January 1^st to the last Friday in March (by close of business/5pm).
• Spring Semester Academy Session – July 1st to the last Friday in September (by close of business/5pm).

Citizenship: The Colorado Department of Law (DOL), the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board, Colorado Mesa University, and the WCPOA are committed to following all federal and state laws governing the certification of peace officer applicants, for both U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike. Due to the changing nature of immigration law and certification requirements, the most current information can be found on the Colorado POST website.

Age:  Agency sponsored cadets shall be subject to hiring qualifications of their sponsoring agency. Non-sponsored applicants must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age by the start date of the academy session desired.

Education: A minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent is required by P.O.S.T. standards and by the WCPOA. Any CMU or CMU Tech academic suspensions must be resolved prior to application to the WCPOA.

Fitness: Agency sponsored cadets shall be subject to hiring qualifications of their sponsoring agency. The fitness standard used by the WCPOA is the Cooper Fitness Assessment and includes a 1.5-mile run, maximum men’s military style push-ups in one-minute, maximum sit-ups in one-minute, and a 300-meter sprint. These events are completed in order with no resting in between. A competitive score for applicants to the WCPOA is an overall 50^th percentile ranking. Scoring of the test results is based on age and gender.  50^th percentile requirements are as follows:

• Women 20-29: 1.5-mile run (14:15), push-ups (18), sit-ups (35), 300m sprint (1:04).
• Women 30-39: 1.5-mile run (15:14), push-ups (14), sit-ups (27), 300m sprint (1:14).
• Women 40-49: 1.5-mile run (16:13), push-ups (11), sit-ups (22), 300m sprint (1:26).
• Men 20-29: 1.5-mile run (11:58), push-ups (33), sit-ups (40), 300m sprint (0:56).
• Men 30-39: 1.5-mile run (12:25), push-ups (27), sit-ups (36), 300m sprint (0:57).
• Men 40-49: 1.5-mile run (13:05), push-ups (21), sit-ups (31), 300m sprint (1:07).

Drug History: Agency sponsored cadets shall be subject to hiring qualifications of their sponsoring agency. Non-sponsored applicants will be disqualified from attending the WCPOA if they meet ANY of the following criteria:

• Any use of Heroin, Hallucinogens, PCP, Angel Dust, Wet, Phencyclidine, or LSD.
• Marijuana: Use of any kind, including edibles, containing the psychoactive substance tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) within two (2) years prior to the application deadline.
• Dangerous Drugs/Narcotics/Vaporous Substances:
  • Use of any kind, within five (5) years prior to the application deadline.
  • Any use may not exceed five (5) times in a lifetime, with no more than one (1) time since the age of 21.
• Any demonstrated pattern of illegally abusing prescription medication.
• Any use of any illegal drug(s) while employed in a criminal justice or law enforcement capacity.
• Any manufacture or cultivation of any illegal drug(s) for the purpose of sales/marketing.
• Any sale or facilitating the sale of any illegal drugs.

Criminal History: Agency sponsored cadets shall be subject to hiring qualifications of their sponsoring agency. All non-sponsored applicants shall be subject to an NCIC/CCIC criminal records check. Non-sponsored applicants will be disqualified from attending the WCPOA if they meet ANY of the following criteria:

• A felony conviction or pending felony charge.
• A domestic violence related conviction or pending domestic violence related charge.
• A misdemeanor conviction or pending misdemeanor charge that affects a candidate’s ability to lawfully possess firearms.
• A misdemeanor conviction or pending misdemeanor charge which may affect Colorado P.O.S.T. certification, as outlined on the Colorado POST website under Disqualifying Incidents.
• A conviction, pending charge, or commission of any other offense, which would undermine their credibility as a Peace Officer.
• Two (2) or more misdemeanor convictions in the past five (5) years prior to the application deadline.
• A misdemeanor conviction or pending misdemeanor charge while serving in a public safety position.

Driving History: P.O.S.T. and WCPOA standards require that all applicants possess a current and valid sate issued driver’s license. All non-sponsored applicants shall be subject to a check of their driving history through their respective in state and out of state driver licensing and record keeping authority. Colorado residents shall submit a copy of their driving history that can be requested from the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles website. All non-sponsored applicants who have not lived in Colorado for all of the last three (3) years shall submit a copy of their driving history from each state in which they have previously resided. Agency sponsored cadets shall be subject to hiring qualifications of their sponsoring agency. Non-sponsored applicants will be disqualified from attending the WCPOA if they meet ANY of the following criteria:

• Recent demonstrated pattern of excessive traffic violations.
• Conviction (or pending charge) for operating a motor vehicle without insurance within one (1) year prior to the application deadline.
• A driver’s license suspension based on moving traffic violations/infractions within the past three (3) years prior to the application deadline.
• A DUI or DWAI conviction (or pending charge) within the past three (3) years prior to the application deadline (this includes all like offenses applicable to any means of motorized transport, such as boating under the influence).
• More than one (1) DUI or DWAI in your lifetime (this includes all like offenses applicable to any means of motorized transport, such as boating under the influence).
• Conviction (or pending charge) for major traffic violations/infractions within the past five (5) years prior to the application deadline. Major traffic violations or infractions, include:
  • Leaving the scene of an accident.
  • Eluding or attempting to elude a peace officer.
  • Engaging in a speed contest.
  • Reckless driving.
  • Driving infraction or offense that states the violation resulted in serious bodily injury or death.

Military History: P.O.S.T. and WCPOA standards require that all military veterans submit a copy of their DD Form 214 and that their documented “Character of Service” be listed as any other discharge than under dishonorable conditions, per § 24-31-301(5), C.R.S. Discharge from any US military branch of service categorized as less than honorable or for reason of unsuitability or misconduct will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

See the academy director for details.

Contact Information

CMU Tech
Office of Student Services, Kayenta Hall 102
2508 Blichmann Avenue
970.255.2670

Certificates