Bismarck Gets Police Training Academy

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Lake Region State College in Devils Lake is expanding its police officer training program to Bismarck.

The college is partnering with the police departments in Bismarck and Mandan and the sheriff's offices in Burleigh and Morton counties. Classes start in late August and run through November.

Lake Region State has been training police officers in Devils Lake since 1987. It created a Fargo training academy in 2002, a Grand Forks academy in 2010 and a Minot academy in 2012.

Program Director John Maritato says having an academy in Bismarck will help address a growing number of law enforcement job openings in western North Dakota, home to the booming oil patch.