Monroe County Prosecutor's Office Partners With IU Police Academy

News Release

Last modified: Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Monroe County prosecutor's office partners with IU Police Academy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2013

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University Police Academy has been training officers for the challenges that await them on the streets for years. Now, the Monroe County prosecutor's office has teamed up with the academy to provide instruction on criminal law.

Upon graduation from the IU Police Academy, the newly certified officers, who are full-time IU students, will work as police officers for the IU Police Department on seven campuses of Indiana University. Upon graduation from the university, these officers will further their careers in law enforcement in Indiana or may advance to the federal level. Several of the officers who currently work at the Bloomington Police Department, the IUPD and the Monroe County Sheriff's Department started their careers with the IU Police Academy.

"Our cadets are fortunate to have this opportunity to receive legal instruction from prosecutors with years of real-world experience handling serious cases," said IUPD Capt. Greg Butler, who oversees the IU Police Academy program. "This partnership ensures the highest quality of instruction. We appreciate them volunteering time to teach this class."

The criminal law class will be taught by first deputy prosecutor Jeff Kehr, senior trial deputy prosecutor Geoffrey Bradley and deputy juvenile prosecutor Rich Hansen. It also will include special presentations from sex crimes deputy prosecutor Darcie Fawcett, domestic violence deputy prosecutor Jackie Dakich and drug crimes deputy prosecutor Erika Oliphant.

Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Gaal began the presentations by addressing this year's class of new cadets on "The Role of the Prosecutor," including topics such as the use of prosecutorial discretion in charging decisions, professional ethics and testifying in court.

"Our office interacts with police officers from different law enforcement agencies on a daily basis," Gaal said. "We see the benefits from the training and professionalism instilled by the academy, so we are glad to participate in this program."

In addition to classroom training, instructors from the prosecutor's office are planning field exercises to simulate issues often faced by officers on the street. Cadets will be asked to apply legal standards to these real-world situations.

"Through interactive discussion, examples from our own experiences handling cases and field exercises, we hope to make this material really come alive for the students," Kehr said.