Local law enforcement officers looking to expand their leadership knowledge now have the opportunity to take classes free of charge.

Opp Police Chief Mike McDonald said that the OPD is currently hosting educational development programs in law enforcement leadership and organizational management through Auburn Montgomery and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Law Enforcement and Command College.

“These courses are offered at no cost to all sworn officers in Covington County and contiguous areas,” he said. “The Law Enforcement and Command College is a university and agency partnership initiative through the College of Public and Justice, Auburn University at Montgomery and the Alabama Criminal Justice Training Center, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

McDonald said there will be two classes offered each semester, which is 16 weeks long.

“There are about a dozen different classes that will be offered,” he said. “We’ll kind of talk to people and take a look and say we are going to run these two classes.

McDonald said he picked the first semester’s classes – critical thinking and motivational leadership.

Classes will begin Feb. 15, and he said they will run during the day.

“The classes are in various subject areas,” he said. “Some of the classes are for those who are in management positions; for example, your sergeants and on up. Some will be for everyone. An example of that is the critical thinking class.”

McDonald said the classes are designed for anyone wanting to move up in the ranks in law enforcement.

“What it really is doing is preparing officers for leadership roles,” he said. “It covers the entire spectrum of law enforcement. I’m talking with the chiefs and it is good for the chiefs, as well. I’m going to try to sit in on one or two of them. The classes remind me a lot of what it was like when I got my master’s in management.”

The classes will be held at the City of Opp’s Emergency Operations Center.

For more information on local course offerings, contact McDonald or assistant chief Kevin Chance at 334-493-4511.