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Lackawanna College prides itself on its dedication to student success. The Lackawanna College Police Academy, as one of its premier programs, ensures that cadets receive the necessary training and support to excel in their law enforcement careers. With high job placement rates and strong industry connections, graduates of the Police Academy are well-equipped for success in the field.

The Lackawanna College Police Academy has experienced significant growth in enrollment over the past two years. Enrollment has doubled for Academy classes in Hazleton and Scranton, with a 100% increase in graduates from Class 256 Hazleton (2022) to Class 261 Hazleton (2024), and a 94% increase from Class 253 Scranton (2021) to Class 260 Scranton (2023).

This surge in enrollment is attributed to better salaries, benefits, and sign-on bonuses offered by departments, as well as a shared desire to protect the NEPA community, leading to increased hiring. The Academy boasts a remarkable 99% Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officer Certification rate for graduates.

“We have police departments sending cadets across Pennsylvania from Center County, State College, Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Bethlehem and Leigh Valley,” Police Academy Director Kevin Mahoney said. “There are other academies but they’ve chosen they’re cadets to come here.”

In addition to rising enrollment numbers, The Academy receives positive feedback from citizens and organizations through various functions and community service events. Furthermore, Governor Shapiro appointed Mahoney to two statewide Commissions in 2023.

“We’re very fortunate in this part of Pennsylvania that we’ve always had strong support for the police. We have police chiefs coming to The Academy all the time to recruit and they always speak extremely highly of the cadets they hired in recent years out of our academy,” Mahoney said.

To give back to the community while still enrolled, cadets participate in various community service initiatives, including volunteering with Friends of the Poor Thanksgiving program, participating in the Shop with A Cop program, assisting with the Lackawanna College food delivery program for needy families, and volunteering at the Scranton Detective Kyle Gilmartin fundraiser at Montage Mountain.

The Academy benefits from strong community and corporate support with many police departments sponsor cadets by covering tuition and salaries, partially reimbursed by the Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission. The Never Forgotten Ride organization donates a $100 gift certificate to every graduate. The Paul Miller Endowment provides funding for cadets to access the Police One Academy’s online resources.

“The Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission will reimburse sponsoring Police Departments 75% of Academy tuition and 45% of the salaries paid to Cadets while they undergo training”, Mahoney said. “If the Department sponsors a Cadet, they have them secured as a Police Officer after graduation, easing their recruitment process.”

Discover how enrolling in the Lackawanna College Police Academy can be a smart investment in your future. To learn more about The Academy, visit Lackawanna.edu, call 570-955-1525 or email thompsonj@lackawanna.edu. Take the first step towards a rewarding career and community impact today!