Three MCC students who participated in the first PREP (Police Recruitment Education Project) are now enrolled in the Rochester police academy.
The program is focused on recruiting minority students who are Law and Criminal Justice program majors. PREP helps them prepare for a career as a police officer with the City of Rochester Police Department. The program, now in its third year, is funded by a PERKINS III Grant. Program administrators are Bob Kennedy, instructor, Law and Criminal Justice, and Officer Robert Poles, Jr. from the Rochester Police Department.
The program was created to address the need for more minority police officers on the RPD. Only 3 to 5 percent of minorities who apply for the RPD pass the requirements and are accepted into the department. Of all applicants, over 50 percent fail the physical agility portion so PEJ 101 was developed to meet that need. . PREP focuses on the written exam, physical fitness and other parts of the hiring process, such as the background check, to better prepare students.
In the program, students participate in CRJ 222 (Criminal Justice Co-op) and work at the 311 Call Reduction Unit of the RPD. In order to participate, students must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA. To help students maintain/obtain a 2.0, tutoring services in all disciplines are available.
Along with the three students now in the academy, 10 of the 11 students in the second PREP program took the City of Rochester Police Officer Civil Service Exam in December and are currently awaiting results, and 11 students are currently enrolled in the third PREP.
Students of the second program currently are assigned to work with a trained RPD Officer mentor to participate in activities such as “ride-a-longs” for hands on experience, and sharing of reflective journal entries. Students in the third PREP are currently working with the 311 unit, while attending weekly forums on various issues to help them with the RPD hiring process.
The program is full for this year, but a new cohort may be formed in the fall.
Robert Kennedy
Law & Criminal Justice
03/15/2006 |