Pittsburgh Technical Institute Offers Annual Law Enforcement Training to Bethel Park Residents

Pittsburgh Technical Institute (PTI) hosted its 4th annual law enforcement workshops for adult and student residents of Bethel Park in early March. Coordinated by Bethel Park Police Officer Tom Rigatti, the two workshops featured the Bethel Park Police Department Citizens' Police Academy (CPA) and Law Enforcement Apprenticeship Program (LEAP). The workshops also provided participants with information about different branches of law enforcement to give community members a more comprehensive perspective on resources and career options in the field.

PTI's Criminal Justice Safety & Security instructor, Mike Gremba, introduced participants to PTI's MILO Range Pro training system, a realistic simulation for use-of-force training and firearm drills. The MILO simulations give participants a real sense of how quickly situations escalate in law enforcement and how quickly officers must be able to make decisions. The training system also gives students a clear idea of how their decisions impact both the offender and themselves. PTI criminal justice students train on these same facilities while preparing for their own careers in law enforcement.

The CPA and LEAP programs are both free to Bethel Park residents. The CPA is designed to introduce residents to the role of police officers as well as what law enforcement resources are available to community members. The LEAP allows high school students the opportunity to get an inside look into the world of law enforcement to see if they would be interested in pursuing a career in the field later on.

While PTI has been hosting the event for 4 consecutive years, the 2014 program is actually the 18th year for the LEAP program and the 14th year for the CPA. High school students who participate in the LEAP program also become eligible for a criminal justice/law enforcement scholarship through the Bethel Park Police Department to continue their studies in the field.

Stay tuned for more PTI events and to hear about next year's criminal justice community workshops.

ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AT PTI:

Safety and Security Administration students at PTI prepare for public service or private sector positions where they serve and protect individuals, communities, corporations and locations. Students prepare for work in criminal investigations, policing, juvenile justice, security and loss prevention, and counterterrorism.
Some graduates of the associates degree in criminal justice program choose to continue their education at an academy or university, or with a branch of the military. Others jump right into uniform or undercover with public and private organizations.

For more information about competencies, courses, associates degrees in criminal justice, and careers, visit PTI's School of Criminal Justice.


ABOUT PITTSBURGH TECHNICAL INSTITUTE
Offering career-focused education since 1946, Pittsburgh Technical Institute is a two-year college with a 180-acre campus in North Fayette, west of Pittsburgh. PTI also offers programs through PTI Online and culinary programs through the American Academy of Culinary Arts, AACA.

PTI offers degree and certificate programs in areas such as Business, Criminal Justice, Hospitality and Culinary Arts, Design, Healthcare, Nursing, Information Technology, Trades Technology, and Energy and Electronics Technology.

PTI students can take advantage of online course offerings, on-campus residence halls, student activities, intramural programs and community service programs. PTI is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

PTI was recognized by its employees as one of the region's Top Places to Work in a 2013 study commissioned by The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and is designated a Military Friendly School for the fourth consecutive year.

ABOUT THE BETHEL PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT
The Bethel Park Police Department is dedicated to ensuring public safety and enhancing the quality of life in the community by enforcing the law in a manner consistent with the rights of all. We are committed to integrity and fairness in our dealings with both the community and the department members who serve within. We will strive to provide the highest quality service to the citizens and the community through honor, professionalism, commitment, compassion and accountability. We will respond to the changing needs of the community and its law enforcement officers, by maintaining a progressive approach to our work and continuing to develop innovative programs aimed at achieving excellence in law enforcement.