Two new officers for the Ball State University Police Department are currently attending the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy before they can begin working in the field in early August.
The police department hired Eric Reffitt and David Huff, both residents of Delaware County, in April after a six-month process to fill the two open positions. The positions opened in November of last year, and the two men were among 40 individuals who applied for the positions.
Director of Public Safety Gene Burton said he was impressed by the two men during the interview process.
"They epitomize what we look for in a university police officer," Burton said.
Burton said the department looked for several qualities when sifting through the list of possible future officers.
University Police Sergeant Rhonda Clark described the application process that is designed to narrow the field of prospective officers.
"They go through a physical agility test, a written test," Clark said. "Finally there is an interview committee made up of officers."
Clark said it was the interviewing committee that gave Burton a list of people they believed to be the best out of the group of applicants.
"There's a certain degree of physical fitness," Burton said. "They must also be a bright, personable individual."
The department also considers how well the applicants understand and are comfortable with their role in the community.
"They must have a basic understanding of campus law enforcement and how it might be a little different than other departments," Burton said.
Reffitt and Huff are at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield, southwest of Indianapolis.
Clark said the recruits would learn a lot at the academy.
"They study criminal law, traffic law, human behavior, emergency vehicle driving, first responders, firearms, defensive tactics," she said.
Capt. Mark Bridge, who works at the academy, said a majority of the courses were presented in a classroom fashion, but a few of the more important classes were taught in a first-hand manner.
"Officers are given hands-on training in firearms, emergency vehicle operation and physical defense tactics," Bridge said.
When the two officers end their training they will begin a three-month field training program with the UPD to determine what role they will play in the department.
"We will pair them with an experienced officer who has training and experience in teaching new police officers," Burton said. "They will go over our policies and procedures and general law enforcement techniques."
Once Huff and Reffitt arrive, the police department will have 28 officers.
Clark said the department was in the middle of hiring two additional officers. The application process, she said, ended in early June, and the testing and interviewing will begin next week.
Huff and Reffitt were unavailable for comment while at the academy.
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