The Bowling Green Police Department has won approval to open its own training academy.
Recruits in Warren and surrounding counties currently have to travel to the Department of Criminal Justice Training in Richmond, and be away from their families during weekdays for five months.
Police Chief Doug Hawkins says the local academy will offer curriculum and training that’s specific to Bowling Green.
"We will teach the same core curriculum that all academies do, but when things apply directly to Bowling Green, whether that’s geographical issues, whether that’s local ordinance, we can teach to those things specifically instead of the Department of Criminal Justice that teaches in very general terms," Hawkins said.
The Kentucky Law Enforcement Council gave the BGPD approval on Thursday to open the 21-week academy.
Classes will begin in June.
