FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE RELEASE DATE: July 21, 2014
CONTACT: Ruthie Retana (562) 463-3145

Rio Hondo Police Academy to Resume

Seasoned law enforcement chief to help run operations

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Rio Hondo College Police Academy, one of the largest college-based police academies in California, will welcome a new class on Aug. 5 under the guidance of the College’s Police Academy Director Walter Allen III.

Academy Class No. 200, which is the second class conducted since 2012, will receive 27 weeks of training that will include more than 1,000 hours of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)-approved law enforcement training.  The academy will be in session Tuesdays through Saturdays from 12 to 9 p.m.

The academy will cover 42 learning subjects, including constitutional law, criminal law, arrest and control tactics, firearms training, emergency vehicle operation, cultural diversity and use of force.

In addition, several members of the Los Angeles County Police Chiefs Association serve on Rio Hondo College’s Police Academy Advisory Board and routinely consult with academy staff regarding current trends and training needs in the law enforcement community.

“The new academy staff has worked extensively with POST on testing and security guidelines to ensure that appropriate measures have been taken to eliminate any potential problems,” said Dr. Ygnacio “Nash” Flores, Dean of the Rio Hondo College Public Safety Division. “POST officials have been extremely helpful assisting the Academy Director, preparing the staff for the upcoming class.”

Several changes have occurred at the academy since 2012, including the building of the new state-of-the-art Administration of Justice building and the hiring of Allen as the Academy Director.

Allen, a 1976 graduate of Rio Hondo College’s Police Academy, has nearly 40 years of experience in law enforcement. Allen was the former California Youth Authority director and the State Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Law Enforcement Office of Correctional Safety chief. He has served as a SWAT team member of the Chino Police Department; special agent supervisor with the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement in Los Angeles and Sacramento; special agent in charge of the Bureau of Organized Crime and Criminal Intelligence; and assistant chief of the California Department of Justice.

“Mr. Allen has a sterling reputation within the law enforcement community throughout the state of California,” said Rio Hondo College Superintendent/President Teresa Dreyfuss. “His vast experience in public safety will help the Police Academy grow and will serve as a role model for those who wish to aspire to his level.”

The academy has 48 spots open for cadets with a potential waiting list due to the interest by pre-service candidates – those who are not sponsored by a police department.

“Many pre-service candidates have been very successful in obtaining employment as police officers after completing the academy,” Flores said.

Reporters, photographers and videographers are invited to a tour of the Administration of Justice building on Thursday, July 24 at 2:30 p.m. Superintendent/President Teresa Dreyfuss, Police Academy Director Walter Allen III, Division of Public Safety Dean Ygnacio Flores and Division of Public Safety Associate Dean Don Mason will be available for interviews.