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Law Enforcement Program Puts Students in the Field

Published Friday May 28, 2021

Law Enforcement Program Puts Students in the Field

One of the main objectives behind Career and Technical Education (CTE) is to provide high-school students with real-world learning opportunities as they prepare for college and a career. This focus on experiential learning has led to the development of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, a unique program at Huot Career and Technical Center in Laconia. 

“We started this program about eight years ago at the exploratory level, and there was a lot of student interest,” said David Warrender, director of career and technical education.

Now a two-year program, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice covers a variety of related topics, including the social and political influences that contribute to law enforcement. In addition to learning about different policing philosophies, students study constitutional law and major United States and NH Supreme Court cases.

Bill Clary, retired police officer with 28 years service, teaches the program. He says the program is unique in its focus on building community partnerships, which provides students with numerous opportunities to directly engage with professionals in the field. “I have built relationships with every police department in Belknap County,” he says. “Some departments take interns from our program where students can ride along with a police officer, while other departments come in and teach a class or do a demonstration.”

Clary has forged partnerships with NH State Police, Belknap County Jail, Belknap County Sheriff, Belknap County Attorney, NH Fish and Game, and Marine Patrol Bureau among other agencies. “The only way we can teach these students what it’s like out there is to show them what it’s like out there,” he adds.

Kris Kelley, deputy chief of the Gilford Police Department, says those who are often successful in getting hired at a law enforcement agency are those who take advantage of these types of programs. “The Huot Technical program provides great insight into law enforcement, while providing firsthand knowledge and expectations of the profession, giving students a leg up on the average applicant without any background,” he says.

Regarding internships, Kelley says students gain critical insight into the daily job requirements at area agencies, allowing them to ask questions to gain a deeper understanding.

“I really see it as a great opportunity for both the agency and the student, as they may decide to work in the field someday,” he says. “At the very least, they have gained a little more understanding as a citizen, which may give them a slightly different perspective than that of the average person.”

The program at Huot Career and Technical Center has led to many students securing immediate employment at various agencies, including Laconia Police Department, Belmont Police Department, State Police, and the Maine Corrections and Fire Service. Many have gone on to college, some of which include University of NH, Saint Anselm College, George Mason University, and others.

One of three former students who now work for the Marine Patrol Bureau, Michelle Gallant cited the program’s experiential learning components as critical in her career choice. “I met extraordinary guest speakers ... and I learned first-hand experiences and information from Mr. Clary,” she says.

In addition to providing students with a glimpse at a possible career, Clary says the program helps students develop general life skills, such as resume preparation, interviewing for jobs, and public speaking. He also provides students with assignments in which they must analyze a current issue from both sides.

“We want to make sure the students understand both sides and listen,” he said. ”If students can explain both sides of any issues and listen to other viewpoints, we will all be better off for it.”

Huot Career and Technical Center is one of 28 CTE centers throughout NH.

To learn more about CTE in New Hampshire, visit nh-cte.org.

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