The Public Safety Training Center on the JCCC campus offers continuing education to sworn police officers and other public safety officers. The center is housed in the Johnson County Regional Police Academy on the JCCC campus.

Before the center's formal establishment, PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession. PSTC registration has grown steadily from 1,300 in 2008-2009 to more than 2,000 in 2010-2011.

As of July 1, 2012, 19 local law enforcement agencies, including the Johnson County Sheriff's Office and most of the county's city police departments, have signed up as PSTC members, allowing reduced fees per class. Currently, the center offers 60 to 80 classes a year, varying from two to 40 hours. Local and national experts serve as presenters.

JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable, quality classes - everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorney's Office to TASERcertification/recertification. In turn, local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work.

The center also offers presentations by nationally known speakers, such as John Gidduck, Archangel Group's senior consultant and instructor, who spoke about school shootings at Beslan Middle School in Ossetia, Russia, and Virginia Tech University.

However, the big winner is the public, as citizens' safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement.

Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs, who have embraced and supported the program. "We have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county, and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the state," Able said.

In a letter to Able, Chief Ellen Hanson, Lenexa Police Department, wrote, "You are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways. . . By helping ensure that officers are well-trained, kept current on new laws, technology and trends, and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement, you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expect."

The PSTC also offers recertification for emergency medical technicians and the fire service entrance exams. For more information on classes, email Able or call him at 913-469-8500, ext. 3988.