Governor Walz Announces ICPOET Grant at Hennepin Technical College
Brooklyn Park, MN, December 10, 2024 – At a press conference held at the Hennepin Technical College Public Safety and Police Science Center, Governor Tim Walz and the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Bob Jacobson, announced a significant grant to support the Intensive Comprehensive Peace Officer Education and Training Program (ICPOET).
This groundbreaking initiative, created to address Minnesota's growing need for highly trained peace officers, aims to enhance public safety while fostering trust and accountability between peace officers and the communities they serve. ICPOET combines academic coursework, tactical skills training, and mentorship to equip participants with the tools needed to succeed in the modern policing environment.
" We need to do anything we can to make sure we’re supporting them across the board," Governor Walz said. " Being able to recruit and retain is critically important. This money will be used to provide training and to provide what’s necessary to get these folks ready for work."
Hennepin Tech has long been a leader in training public safety professionals. In 2023, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and U.S. Representative Dean Phillips worked to secure a $1 million federal grant to expand training for future police officers and public safety professionals at Hennepin Technical College and Alexandria Technical & Community College.
In 2024, the college upgraded simulation lab equipment and introduced a new fleet of squad vehicles to its Police Science and Public Safety program, enhancing hands-on learning and reducing direct costs for students in the program. The addition of the ICPOET grant will further elevate Hennepin Tech’s ability to prepare peace officers who are ready to meet the demands of modern law enforcement.
“Hennepin Tech focuses on developing officers that support diverse communities and have critical thinking skills that they can call on in high-stress situations that require split-second decisions,” said Academic Dean, Cara Garrett. “What makes this program unique is that ICPOET students already have a two or four-year degree. Our goal is to reach people who want to make a career transition and who may not have the financial means to do it otherwise.”
The ICPOET program represents a collaborative effort to invest in the future of public safety. By combining advanced training methods and state-of-the-art resources, it ensures Minnesota peace officers are well-prepared to protect and serve their communities.
Since 2010, Hennepin Tech has been a leading provider of Skills Training for peace officers. Skills Training teaches hands-on skills such as conducting a traffic stop and making an arrest. Hennepin Tech began offering a new Peace Officer and Public Safety associate degree in January of 2023. As a result, Hennepin Tech is now the only campus where future police and peace officers can receive all needed training (academic and skills) on one campus in the Twin Cities. Removing logistical barriers improves student success rates and provides more access to students in underserved communities.
About Hennepin Technical College
Founded in 1972, Hennepin Tech is the largest stand-alone technical college in Minnesota. With campuses in Brooklyn Park and Eden Prairie, the college offers degree and non-degree courses in over 40 programs in the skilled trades and high-demand career fields. Achieving a high job placement rate, Hennepin Tech prepares students for high-paying employment opportunities.