There is an abundance of rich history tucked inside the walls of Fox Valley Technical College.

And if the walls could talk, one of the stories they would tell is the launch of law enforcement training at FVTC; a story that began 54 years ago.

Early years of training

Called Fox Valley Technical Institute at the time, Wisconsin’s Law Enforcement Standards Board officially certified the college to offer law enforcement training effective September 1, 1970.

Before FVTC opened the Public Safety Training Center (PSTC), law enforcement recruits came to Appleton’s main campus for training. Back then, the academy had just one dedicated classroom and instructors relied on a portion of the campus parking lot to teach vehicle contact scenarios.

“When we did Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) training, recruits would practice operating emergency vehicles at different locations away from campus,” says Tim Hufschmid, academy director. “We would move training to the former dog track in Kaukauna, the parking lot at Timber Rattlers stadium, or use the driving center on campus when it wasn’t being used by our Transportation programs.”

Instead of the impressive indoor firing ranges found today at the PSTC, firearms practice was done in a range in the basement of the college.

Training today

Today, Fox Valley Technical College is the largest provider of law enforcement recruit officer training among the state’s 16 technical colleges. While most offer two or three academies per year, FVTC added a fourth academy to the calendar beginning this year as a way to address the wait lists that were forming.

“The academies all have the same curriculum throughout Wisconsin, but there are differences in how they teach because of the facilities,” explains adjunct instructor James Schuessler. “Fortunately, FVTC is among the best – if not the best facility in the state, so we can take training to a bit higher level.”

The Public Safety Training Center opened in 2015 to serve both degree-seeking students and provide continuous education for safety professionals already in the field. At the 80-acre facility, recruits get hands-on tactical training through Defense and Arrest Tactics rooms, indoor and outdoor firing ranges and the emergency vehicle driving range. The River City simulated village includes a bar, hotel, mini-mart, houses and a bank where recruits are tested in real-world scenarios.

“You come here as a student, not knowing much about law enforcement but then you get the full taste of law enforcement, and the school itself when you train here,” says Luis Quezada, a recruit who has since become a deputy for the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office. “You don’t have to go anywhere else; a lot of the scenarios are true to life or have happened to prior law enforcement.”

Growth of the Recruit Academy

With the addition of the fourth academy, there will only be about 21 days in 2024 (excluding weekends and holidays) when an academy isn’t running at the PSTC. There will be 46 weeks in 2024 when two academies will run simultaneously.

As you can imagine, staffing the academies takes time and coordination.

“About 90% of each academy is taught by adjunct instructors, so that’s 40-45 individuals,” Tim explains. “These are instructors who are still working in their profession, so our recruits are learning from subject matter experts.”

“You don’t have someone who is teaching you something, but they’ve never experienced it themselves,” says Katelyn Lynch, a police officer with the City of Menasha Police Department. “That is what makes such a huge difference about the instructors at FVTC. They’ve experienced first-hand what they are teaching. They know it. They’ve been in our shoes.”

The Future of the Profession

According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ), the number of officers in Wisconsin fell to less than 13,000 in 2023. In the most recent state budget, funding to local governments was increased, and many are using it to hire new officers or to improve pay for those already on the job.

Regardless of what the job market may reflect, FVTC continues to run full academies with recruits who have been sent to FVTC by their hiring agencies from around the state.

“Law enforcement is still one of the most honorable professions that you can get into,” says Daniel Hartwig, who is the Manitowoc County Sheriff as well as an adjunct instructor. “What you’re doing every single day is protecting people. I don’t think there is a greater calling than putting yourself before others in service.”

 

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To be eligible for certification as a Wisconsin law enforcement officer:

 18+ years old High school diploma or equivalent Valid driver's license No unpardoned felony convictions No convictions related to domestic violence Complete 720-hour academy certified by WI Law Enforcement Standards Board

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