Basic Programs Overview

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Category: Basic Training
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Welcome to the Basic Programs division here at the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy, we hope your visit provides you with the information you’re looking for.  If by chance all your questions aren’t answered please feel free to contact us.

Basic Training for Peace Officers, Detention Officers, Communications Officers, and Coroner’s is mandated by State Statute, and provided by the State of Wyoming through the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy.  This training is provided for officers who are already employed by a Wyoming Law Enforcement Agency.  The WLEA does have a Pre-Service Program which provides an avenue, for those interested in a law enforcement career, to attend Basic training without being employed by a Law Enforcement Agency. 

Peace Officers, Detention Officers, and Coroners must successfully complete their Basic training within the first year of their employment; Communications Officers have two years.  Although we do utilize the help from seasoned officers and professionals from the field, much of the Basic training is provided through six full-time staff instructors.  These instructors ensure that the mission of the Academy is fulfilled through innovative, yet practical training, done so in a professional atmosphere.   The Basic Training division provides three Peace Officer Basic courses, three Detention Officer Basic courses, two Communications Basic courses, and one Coroner’s Basic course each year.  We are capable of training over 300 officers annually.

We are unique in Wyoming as the WLEA is the only Law Enforcement training facility in the State.  Most of the other states utilize colleges, universities, regional academies, and individual agencies to provide this training.  Wyoming is able to centralize its resources and ensure that officers have consistency in all areas of training, regardless of what agency they work for.  Basic training began in 1958 at the University of Wyoming.  In 1973 Basic training moved to the Wyoming State Fairgrounds in Douglas and in 1984 the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy was built and training has continued here ever since.