ICC’s C.O.R.E. program prepares the next generation of law officers with hands on training
FULTON, MISS. (WCBI) – It is just after six in the morning, and cadets in ICC’s CORE program are in the weight room.
And also getting in some cardio with sprints.
Cadets take part in PT four days a week. It may be tough, but Ashley Sanderson says it is helping prepare her for the police academy.
“Going to the academy will be a huge struggle, we are doing it for an hour here, academy will be all day, pushing myself to get up as early as I do here, it will be worse at the academy,” Sanderson said.
Dr Tim Clouse is coordinator of the CORE program, which is open to all agencies in the counties served by ICC. He says cadets , who must be enrolled at ICC, are focused on the mission.
“One of the biggest problems we have when people go to the academy is they are not prepared for it, it is a shock to them, so we are trying to get them prepared so they don’t wash out the first day,” Dr. Clouse said.
The CORE program is set up like a police academy, so along with PT, there is also classroom time. Cadets have a choice of three different options , depending on their career interests, law enforcement, forensics and pre law.
“What we are trying to do is introduce a little bit of everything to all three groups, because law enforcement has to work with attorneys, attorneys with law enforcement, forensics starts coming in with major cases, attorneys have to know processes of forensics and forensics has to know about attorneys roles because they present the cases, we are trying to get everybody on the same page,” Dr. Clouse said.
Cadets say though the semester has just started, they are learning a lot.
“Gives better insight of being in police and law, get more of a hands on experience than sitting in a classroom,” said C.O.R.E. Cadet Kaylie Vanlandingham.
“Learning how to write reports, and going over gun safety,” said C.O.R.E. Cadet Quamone Jones.
Cadets not only get a certificate when they complete the two year CORE program, they will also have opportunities to get instruction in courses such as instructor development, hostage negotiation, and crash reconstruction, courses typically not taught at a regular police academy.
