Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE--This fall, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's Criminal Justice Department, in association with the Wisconsin Department of Justice, will introduce an online first-line supervisory training certificate program geared towards Wisconsin criminal justice professionals. This innovative new program was developed with funding provided by the Department of Justice, which plans to sponsor a number of Wisconsin police officers for this year's initial course. If there are additional openings available after these students have enrolled, the program will be made available to other criminal justice professionals in the state. The program will be delivered by UWP's Distance Learning Center and is scheduled to be expanded to the national level after the pilot year.

The eight-module, non-credit certificate program focuses on the role and function of the first line supervisor in criminal justice agencies. Participants will examine the importance of leadership styles; supervisory skills; supervisor functions and practices; communication skills; and motivation and team building in the development of line personnel. The course will be delivered through a series of interactive online sessions and web-based assignments. Thanks to the online format, professionals located throughout Wisconsin will be able to share perspectives about various supervisory techniques and how they work in specific law enforcement situations. After successful completion of the program, students will earn the First-Line Supervisory Training for CJ Professionals Certificate, which is offered in partnership by UWP and the Department of Justice.

The instructor for the course will be Steve Elmer, who currently teaches courses for UWP's criminal justice program. In addition, he is actively engaged in the private practice of law and also serves as Lafayette County, Wisconsin's Corporation Counsel. Elmer is a former prosecutor, police patrol officer, and EMT. He has served as an elected county sheriff in a Wisconsin jurisdiction serving a population of approximately 30,000. During his tenure as sheriff, Elmer served as the Southern Area Emergency Police Services director for the Wisconsin Division of Emergency Government; as chair of the Green County EMS Commission; chair of the Legislative Committee of the Badger State Sheriff's Association; chair of the Board of Directors for Green County EMS of Monroe, Inc.; and on the Wisconsin Training and Standards Curriculum Committee.

Registration opens July 26 and closes Aug. 31. The first semester (modules 1-4) will be held Sept. 13 to Dec. 22. The second semester (modules 5-8) begins on Jan. 18, 2005 and ends on May 20. For further information about the program, visit http://www.uwplatt.edu/disted and click on 'Certificates.' Questions about course content should be directed to Dr.Cheryl Banachowki-Fuller, director of UWP's online criminal justice program, at 608-342-1652 or at banachoc@uwplatt.edu. Questions about registration and payment should be directed to Janet Harle at UWP's Office of Continuing Education, 608-342-1314 or harle@uwplatt.edu. To learn about scholarships available from the Department of Justice, contact Richard Thomas, management training consultant, at 608-261-8641 or at ThomasRP@DOJ.STATE.WI.US.