KCC partners with DPSST for regional law enforcement training and certification

Klamath Community College (KCC) has further solidified its ongoing efforts to offer training and certification opportunities for law enforcement through a new partnership with the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) – allowing officers across Southern Oregon to attend recertification and maintenance training courses on campus.

Already serving as a Klamath County Sheriff ’s Office (KCSO) substation since 2020, with one officer onsite, KCC has hosted classroom and various self-defense training sessions for law enforcement for several years. Spearheaded by KCC’s Criminal Justice program, the initial pilot project was expanded this year to allow for an additional DPSST Regional Training Coordinator, Ben Klecker, to join the Sheriff Substation office as well.

Further expanding on programs provided at KCC, DPSST can now offer statewide skills-based training sessions and equipment in Klamath Falls, while also serving as host for agencies such as the Oregon State Police Crime Lab. With the Oregon Public Safety Academy based in Salem, establishing a wider range and larger capacity of training and certification opportunities for officers in southern Oregon reduces travel times and expense for agencies.

“The Oregon State Legislature has been wrestling with state mandates that would require law enforcement across the state to have at least an associate’s degree,” said Jim Gravley, KCC Criminal Justice program lead. “The benefit of this relationship puts KCC at the table to have discussions with law enforcement across the entire state about how we can help officers attain degrees. With the Criminal Justice program supporting Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) initiatives and a track for those who have attended the service academy, KCC serves as a bridge allowing traditional academic courses to be taught at the agency level.”

The partnership also helps current KCC students in the Criminal Justice program through exposure and access to training and educational opportunities, and expanded participation in activities such as local police reserve programs, further offering an in-road into a law enforcement career.

“The joint working and training relationship between KCC and the sheriff ’s office benefits our community in a number of ways,” said Klamath County Sheriff Chris Kaber. “Through the commitment of KCC to workforce development, local law enforcement agencies and students have been able to routinely train at KCC, and use remote learning capabilities to stay current with certifications and build on their training. Now that DPSST has partnered with KCC, training on a regional level is a fantastic opportunity, and reduces cost and time for deputies and officers that would otherwise have to travel to the academy in Salem.”

A training session last week drew over 50 officers to KCC from as far away as Bandon, with an Oregon State Police detective and forensic scientist from Portland serving as instructors for a course detailing officer-involved shooting investigation. Recent trainings held at KCC have included topics such as evidence collection, defensive tactics, and the Oregon Physical Abilities Test Instructor Development Course.

According to Klecker, planned future DPSST trainings in the works at KCC include active threat assessment, a scenario facilitator course, field training evaluation program instructor course, and a computer-based scenario simulator training system, among others.

“DPSST is grateful to the Klamath County Sheriff ’s Office and KCC for their partnership, and for providing a space from which we can serve public safety professionals throughout southwest Oregon,” said Oregon DPSST Director Phil Castle. “We look forward to utilizing our shared space to help our law enforcement partners keep their communities safe by providing them with safe, high-quality training.”