Southeast Missouri State University graduated 21 new officers from the Law Enforcement Academy (LEA) during a ceremony held at the Show Me Center on Thursday, May 8. Twenty of the new graduates are set to make an immediate impact, serving across 11 counties in southeastern Missouri.
With a 100% pass rate on the P.O.S.T. exam for the seventh consecutive year, the LEA continues a tradition of excellence. The candidates’ readiness to serve is the result of successfully completing the LEA’s rigorous 19-week training program, which blends practical and classroom training to prepare officers. The consistent success of these graduates reflects the Academy’s commitment to excellence, producing highly sought after officers each year.
“The SEMO Law Enforcement Academy is an incredible opportunity for interested individuals to change their career and build safer communities through a one-semester program,” said Dan Presson, assistant vice president of economic & workforce development at SEMO. “Each community across this region has its own unique needs, and it takes dedicated, service-minded individuals to help support and protect those communities.”
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SEMO’s LEA offers flexible educational options, allowing students to pursue the Academy as part of a bachelor’s degree or through a stand-alone certificate in law enforcement. This summer, SEMO’s LEA will begin renovations and updating equipment thanks to a Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. This investment further solidifies SEMO’s commitment to public safety and the Academy’s importance to the region.
SEMO’s Law Enforcement Academy remains dedicated to preparing skilled professionals for meaningful careers that make a difference in their communities. Those interested in SEMO’s LEA fall 2025 cohort should apply by July 18, 2025.
For more information about the Law Enforcement Academy at Southeast Missouri State University, visit semo.edu/lea.