Program targets aspiring police officers

10-week course will help students navigate police academy exams

Looking to fill the need for officers and help boost household incomes during the pandemic, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement is launching a program to help people get into the Maui Police Department.

The 10-week course will help students navigate the Maui County and Honolulu police academy exams and develop the skills and critical thinking needed in law enforcement, according to a news release.

The program will be led by retired officers and will cover the written exam, physical fitness assessment, employment interview, test-taking fundamentals, life as a police officer and discussions with current MPD officers. It will also include cultural and financial education.

Classes start next week and will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday at the J. Walter Cameron Center in Wailuku. They will only be offered in person, with no online learning options. CNHA said it will follow state and county COVID19 regulations and will make adjustments as needed.

The program is part of CNHA’s Hawaiian Trades Academy and is free thanks to grants and partnerships from Aloha United Way, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Kamehameha Schools and the state Legislature. However, a $50 deposit is due on the first day of class and will be returned to students who meet the attendance and participation requirements and successfully complete the course.

Participants must be at least 20 years old.

For more information, visit hawaiiancouncil.org/trades.