Law Enforcement
Are you looking for variety and action? Do you consider yourself fair, confident, and inquisitive? Then read on to learn more about our 18-month Law Enforcement program!
Lake Area Tech values the partnership it has with local, state, tribal, and federal agencies as its mission is to graduate students with the necessary knowledge and skills to be employed in the law enforcement field including positions as police officers, sheriff deputies, corrections officers, highway patrol troopers, criminal investigators, tribal officers, crime scene specialists, communications officers, conservation officers, probation, parole, and juvenile officers.
At Lake Area Tech, Law Enforcement students will be offered training in areas not limited to but including Constitutional Law, Criminal Law & Procedures, Criminal Investigations, Crime Scene Evidence Collection, Juvenile Justice, First Responder, Patrol Procedures, Firearms, Mechanics of Arrest, Street Survival Tactics, Corrections, and Emergency Vehicle Operations. Students will also learn how the legal and criminal justice systems work in tandem with local, state, and federal government agencies. After successful completion of the program, students will earn an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Law Enforcement.
Our mission is fundamental: To recruit, educate, train, and develop outstanding law enforcement leaders who will remain true to the principles of Law Enforcement – service, justice, and fundamental fairness. Our vision is predetermined by our profession: to become noble guardians of democracy!
Lake Area Technical College’s curriculum for Law Enforcement meets the educational requirements for professional licensure in South Dakota. Professional licensure and certification requirements often vary from state to state. Prospective or current students considering an academic program that leads to a professional license or certification are strongly encouraged to seek guidance from the appropriate licensing agency in the state you plan to work before beginning an affiliated academic program. Read more here regarding Professional Licensure Disclosures.
According to our latest Placement Report, graduates of our Law Enforcement program are earning an average wage of $30.88 per hour, just six months after graduation!
Law Enforcement Virtual Academy
Our Law Enforcement program at Lake Area Technical College offers currently serving officers a virtual pathway to an Associate of Applied Science degree in Law Enforcement. In just nine short months, officers who have successfully completed the South Dakota Basic Officer Certification are eligible to apply to the Lake Area Tech Law Enforcement Virtual Academy. To accommodate an officer’s work schedule, Lake Area Tech will provide a mix of online and on-campus (or hybrid) classes. This Virtual Academy option has been developed in conjunction with the Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training Commission and Law Enforcement partners across South Dakota.
How Does It Work?
Lake Area Tech will count, as prior learning experience (PLE), all classes completed by graduates of the South Dakota Law Enforcement Academy and will waive commensurate coursework leading to the A.A.S. degree option in Law Enforcement. If an officer isn’t currently employed in law enforcement at the time of the application for PLEs, they must have completed the SDLEOSTC Training Academy not more than five years prior to the first application for PLEs. If it’s been longer than five years, Lake Area Tech will review applications on a case-by-case basis.
Admission to the Academy
In addition to the PLE classes (520 hours) acquired at the South Dakota Law Enforcement Academy, applicants seeking an A.A.S. degree in Law Enforcement from Lake Area Tech must meet all of the admission requirements and must complete and submit the online application below along with the $25 application fee. ACT scores, high school and college transcripts, and a copy of the South Dakota Basic Officer Certification will be requested. If the applicant does not have an ACT score, he or she will be required to take the Accuplacer entrance exam at Lake Area Tech.
No Need to Relocate
The coursework will be offered on-campus or online, whatever works best for you! Please note, students will need access to a computer to complete the online coursework. Some on-campus class time may be held on weekends.
What Does It Cost?
The cost per credit hour is $124. Other fees and costs can be expected such as books, uniforms, etc.
Conservation Officer Certification
Lake Area Tech worked closely with SD Game, Fish, and Parks in the creation of the Conservation Officer certificate to ensure LATC Law Enforcement graduates are prepared for success in the Conservation Law Enforcement field. This one-semester certificate is only offered during the summer semester and is only available to LATC Law Enforcement students and Certified Law Enforcement Officers. Students will receive hands-on training in topics including conservation and park laws/regulations, plant and wildlife identification, land management, and wildlife management. Students will also learn how to safely operate and maintain field-related equipment. As a stand-alone certificate, it is not financial aid-eligible. The cost of this 12-credit, on-campus certificate is $2,928.00.
Uncrewed Aerial Systems (Drones) Certification
There is a fast-growing demand for workers who can operate and maintain uncrewed aircraft systems in our region. The Uncrewed Aerial Systems (Drones) Certificate coursework will equip students with the necessary skills to be employed as uncrewed aerial system operators/pilots and technicians. Graduates will learn the laws and ethical procedures for operating Uncrewed Aerial Systems and will have the knowledge and skills to become a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Certificated Remote Pilot (Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate). Beginning fall 2025, Uncrewed Aerial Systems is an 18-credit, one or two-semester certificate delivered in a hybrid format with both online and on-campus components.
