Meeker County Sheriff Brian Cruze recently announced that his professional membership organization will award scholarships at the end of the year for people who plan to pursue careers in law enforcement.
According to a news release from Cruze's office, the Minnesota Sheriff's Association Board of Directors has established a law enforcement scholarship fund that will award up to 15 $600 scholarships. The scholarships, he said, are due to the coordinated efforts of Minnesota's 87 sheriffs.
The new Minnesota Law Enforcement Scholarship Program will give special recognition to the financial needs of students attending the peace officer skills course, or two- or four-year law enforcement degree colleges.
"The board of directors feel peace officers in our democratic society have complex duties to perform," Cruze said. He added that the Minnesota Sheriff's Association recognizes the importance of pre-entry training for people considering law enforcement as their career choice and that some students need outside help in meeting the costs of such training, even though they excel academically.
Scholarship awards will be announced by Dec. 28. Application forms and a statement of procedures are available at the Meeker County Sheriff's Office or www.mnsheriffs.org. Scholarships are only available to students currently enrolled in one of the following three categories:
- Mandated POST Skills Program,
- The second year of a two-year law enforcement program, or
- The third or fourth year of a four-year college criminal justice program.
To qualify, students must have completed at least one year of a two-year program or two years of a four-year program. Students meeting these criteria are invited to obtain a scholarship application form from their local sheriff's office or online at www.mnsheriffs.org.
In making its selection of awards, the scholarship committee intends on achieving representation from all geographical areas of the state, the news release said.
