High Sierra Law Enforcement Academy Class 2-89

A REGIONAL APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING
  
On June 17, 1999, ten years after the second class of 1989 graduated from the High Sierra Law Enforcement Academy, Truckee Meadows Community College advertised that it would hold its summer law enforcement academy of the year. 

The announcement  said: "Truckee Meadows Community College will hold its first summer session of the High Sierra Law Enforcement Academy July 19 to Oct. 29", which would be a 15-week program for a total of 600 hours. The academy was open to civilians interested in law enforcement and would train rookies for the Washoe County Sheriff's Department, Reno and Sparks police department, the Nevada Park and Probation division and rural agencies.

Civilians who completed the program would earn a year's worth of credits and the Peace Officers Standard and Training certificate, allowing graduates to work with any agency in Nevada. The announcement included that interested students must complete the application, including physical fitness training, a background investigation and a medical examination and drug test by July 3. Prospective students also are re- quired to meet minimum regional hiring requirements for police agency, and pass English 101 or the equivalent test and must be at least 21 by the time they graduate from the academy. Tuition In 1999 was $2,000.

Three years later, in 2002, the Regional Public Safety Training Center (RPSTC), located on 124 acres in Reno was built at a cost of $18 million. The intent was a multi-use training facility which is owned by Washoe County. The Center operated under an Inter-local Agreement between Washoe County, the Cities of Reno and Sparks, the Sierra Fire Protection District (SFPD), and Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC). The agreement allowed for equitable participation in the administration and management of this state-of-the-art facility. Annual costs were apportioned to local law enforcement, fire agencies, and the Community College based upon a formula. The budget provided for administrative support, operational costs, maintenance, and capital outlays in support of the Center’s mission.

The facility was envisioned to provide an exceptional training and learning environment for first responders as well as a cost savings to taxpayers. The RPSTC has high capacity fiber optic networks, wireless access points, state-of-the-art classrooms, a seven-story burn tower, off-road and paved emergency vehicle operations courses, shooting ranges with computerized target systems, driving and force option simulators, props for hazardous materials and technical rescue training, and a functional chemistry lab. Distance learning capabilities have been added via a web-based content management system and streaming and video-on-demand technology. The RPSTC hosts law enforcement, fire, and EMS academies and specialized courses throughout the year.

A board comprised of all the Chiefs and sheriff control the curriculum and the Reno Police Department has a major influence over what is taught. In 2020, the basic P.O.S.T. Category I course is approximately 20 weeks in duration. After graduation from the Academy, new Reno officers attend a 3 to 4-week mini Academy that deals specifically with Reno topics.

The practice of allowing individuals who are not hired by a participating law enforcement agency to enroll through the TMCC was abandoned.