Academic Programs - Butte College

About the Program

The Law Enforcement Academy program (State Parks emphasis) is designed to prepare students to meet entry-level requirements for jobs in the law enforcement profession generally, and with the California Department of Parks and Recreation specifically. The curriculum has sufficient breadth to allow students to pursue a career in a variety of law enforcement agencies in peace officer positions. This academy also emphasizes laws and regulations regularly enforced by the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Careers in law enforcement as peace officers are constantly open statewide. There are currently thousands of peace officer job openings in the State of California, with at least 2770 additional openings expected each year for the next several years. Additionally, the State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation has over 125 current vacancies and is experiencing approximately 55-60 peace officer vacancies each year. Satisfactory completion of the Butte College Basic Law Enforcement Academy with a State Parks emphasis meets the 42 Learning Domain requirements for the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training and qualifies graduates to apply for these entry-level peace officer positions.

Admission to the Program:
Students are admitted to this program by special application only. Students must either be approved, accepted and employed as State Park Peace Officer Cadet Rangers or Lifeguards for the California Department of Parks and Recreation or as peace officer trainees by a California law enforcement agency, or they must meet the following requirements:

Must have a high school diploma from an accredited high school, or a GED Certificate;
Must pass Peace Officer Standards and Training Entry Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLET-B) exam with a score of 42 or higher;
Must pass Law Enforcement Academy Physical Training Test, a 1.5-mile run which must be completed in 15 minutes or less, or another agency developed physical agility test, no more than 3 months prior to the first day of the academy;
Must complete Butte College Law Enforcement Academy Orientation;
Must possess a valid, unrestricted driver’s license with no current or recent suspensions;
Must provide California Department of Justice clearance within 90 days of the start of the academy which confirms that the applicant has no felony or misdemeanor convictions or circumstances which would prohibit possession of a firearm; and
Must provide proof of completion of a medical suitability examination

Additional information about the Butte College Law Enforcement Academy-Basic/State Parks Emphasis, and application for admission to the program, is available at: www.butte.edu/departments/careertech/publicsafety/state-park-ranger.html

Program Requirements

Associate in Science Degree in Law Enforcement Academy - Basic/State Parks Emphasis

Program Goal: CTE
GE Pattern(s): Butte Local
Program Code: 35937.00AS

Program Learning Outcome(s):

Upon successful completion of this program, the student will be able to:

Meet or exceed the requirements as set forth by Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) for California Peace Officer training.
Demonstrate, through written exams, crime scene scenario testing, and manipulative skills, core competencies as mandated by P.O.S.T.
Demonstrate, through written exams, DPR scenario testing, and manipulative skills, core competencies as mandated by DPR.
Evaluate and manage their physical fitness and maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to safely and effectively perform peace officer duties.
Describe the connection between proper nutrition and maintaining body composition, physical conditioning, and reducing the risk of illness or injury.
Identify and describe common health problems and utilize appropriate risk management techniques to ensure health and physical fitness.
Demonstrate competency through written examinations and a themed interpretive presentation in Basic Interpretive Learning Systems (BILS).
Describe and interpret state and federal laws, rules, regulations decisions, court cases and guidelines which relate to accessibility to public parks and interpretive programs.
Describe the public safety officerâ€™s role in the EMS system.
Demonstrate technical proficiency in all skills necessary to fulfill the role of an Emergency Medical Responder.
Demonstrate competence and understanding of the "Four Basic Safety Rules" for handling firearms.
Demonstrate the ability to field strip a rifle and to properly clean and maintain it.
Explain policy regarding the use of firearms.
Demonstrate the ability to properly load, unload, clear malfunctions and fire a rifle.
Demonstrate the fundamentals of rifle marksmanship to fire accurately from the prone, kneeling, sitting and standing positions.
Demonstrate proficiency and obtain qualification as being certified as competent in the use of a rifle.