New peace officers ready to enter workforce after Metro Tech graduation

Oklahoma City – Oklahoma’s law enforcement community is gaining new peace officers entering the workforce this week. Metro Technology Centers’ Basic Peace Officer Certification Academy (BPOC) graduation is being held today (Friday, October 29) at First Southern Baptist Church, 6400 S. Sooner Road. This is the second class to graduate since the program’s launch in January 2021. Many of the twenty students completing the 16-week program with multiple certifications are now employed by state police agencies or sheriff offices.

“The development of our programs at Metro Tech is helping fill a critical need, particularly in small departments,” said Amanda English, coordinator of the BPOC Academy at Metro Tech.“What makes the program unique is that it gives a broader group of people a path to get into law enforcement,” said Jason Ruegge, inspector and master instructor of the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office. The program helps fill the gap between applying and being accepted into the state police academies. Ruegee, who is also an instructor for the program said, “This allows for many people interested in law enforcement careers to apply, whereas, the city academies on their own are more difficult to be accepted.”

The BPOC Academy is the result of a collaboration — led by English — of legislators, CareerTech resources, Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office and local law enforcement agencies to bring standardized police training to all communities. For more information about the BPOC program visit www.merotech.edu/lawenforcement or call 405.595.4678.

About Metro Technology Centers: One of the largest and most diverse technology centers in Oklahoma, Metro Tech has four campuses offering short-term, career and customized business training. Campuses are located in South Oklahoma City, Northeast Oklahoma City, the Will Rogers Airport and Downtown Oklahoma City. www.metrotech.edu