Municipal Police Academy

Robert Morris hosts a Municipal Police Academy for the Pittsburgh region, training students to receive state Act 120 certification to become police officers in cities, boroughs, townships, and municipalities in Pennsylvania.

The part-time Police Academy offers courses during weekday evenings and on Saturdays. It is administered through the Criminal Justice Training Center at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, which is certified by the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission to provide Act 120 training.

For RMU Criminal Justice students, the Police Academy can provide a professional experience, one of the hallmarks of an RMU education. Also, cadets who complete their Act 120 certification at the RMU Police Academy can earn up to 17 credits toward a degree in criminal justice. Finally, Act 120 certification can also help Criminal Justice graduates find a position in law enforcement more quickly.

This PA Act 120 Basic Police Officer Training Program certifies graduates as Municipal Police Officers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The part-time training schedule is designed for working individuals looking for weekday evening and weekend training times. The academy classes will meet on two weekday evenings from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. and one weekend day from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The duration of the program is approximately 49 weeks until graduation.

Once an RMU student completes the academy and passes the ACT 120 test in Harrisburg, they may earn up to 17 credits for the following courses: CRMJ1010 Intro to Criminal Justice, POLS2020 Criminal Law & Evidence, CRMJ2020 Policing, CRMJ2030 Juvenile Delinquency, POLS3060 Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, WELL1020 Physical Fitness, and WELL1030 First Aid & CPR.

Along with the traditional 49 week-long police academy, IUP and Robert Morris University will also offer the PA Act 165 Partial Waiver Police Academy at the Moon Township campus. This program is for military police veterans and federal law enforcement personnel who wish to obtain certification as Pennsylvania municipal police officers. The program is shorter in length since the participants will already possess much of the same training offered in the regular police academy. The Act 165 program has a similar schedule as the traditional academy, two weekday evenings from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. and one weekend day from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

If interested, request an application here, or call 724-357-3988 for more information.