Law Enforcement

The law enforcement profession in the United States confronts some of the most difficult problems and issues that any nation can experience as it provides public safety services to our citizens. The Tiffin University Bachelor of Criminal Justice (BCJ) degree with a major in Law Enforcement provides you with the necessary foundation for successful employment and practice. At TU you will receive an innovative academic and practical education in the law, the behavioral sciences and the political process.

Balancing Public Order & Individual Liberty

Successful baccalaureate degree graduates in law enforcement must comprehend the mission, structure, goals and operations of police agencies at the local, state and federal levels in a democratic society. The prevention, repression and control of crime in America requires that law enforcement agents appreciate the critical role they play in balancing public order and individual liberty. Tiffin University’s education provides you with the background and real-world experience to meet this challenge.

An Education Designed for Real Impact

• You’ll graduate with a degree in law enforcement and your OPOTA (Police Academy) Certification – all in four years.
• Our Criminal Justice Experiential Learning Center allows you to apply what you learn in the classroom to real-world situations – in a realistic, but controlled, environment.
• An internship in the field is a required part of the curriculum, often leading to a foot in the door to a first job in the field.
• TU partners with The Washington Center Internship Program, which can provide you a unique opportunity to intern with federal agencies in Washington D.C.
• In small class sizes – always under 40, generally closer to 15 students – you’ll receive a lot of individualized attention.

The TU Law Enforcement program is a thorough and highly practical career preparation, distinguished by current, relevant field knowledge and active, hands-on learning experiences. You’ll study in classes with expert faculty, all with varied law enforcement experience – ranging from patrol officer, police detective and Chief of Police to undercover narcotics investigator, U.S. Secret Service agent and municipal prosecutor. These experiences allow professors to share real-world cases with you, teach you skills that are needed in the field today, and give you a head start through connections within the field.

A Practical, Professional Education

• You’ll gain theoretical underpinnings of the law enforcement field that will provide a strong foundation for your career.
• You’ll engage in practical, real-world learning experiences through the use of the Experiential Learning Center.
• You’ll acquire career-ready skills, including crime scene processing/investigation (fingerprint lifting, impressings/casting, sketching), evidence processing, crime scene photography, testifying in court, interviews/interrogations, search warrant/report writing and more.
• Cultural awareness and sensitivity training is built into many of our classes with topics that include: profiling, diversity and demographics in law enforcement recruiting, community policing, managing a diverse workforce and others.

Ohio Police Officer Training Academy (OPOTA)

To be a sworn police officer in Ohio, you must successfully complete the Ohio Police Officer Training Academy (OPOTA). Tiffin University partners with Terra State Community College to include the cost of the academy in tuition and can be earned in just one semester.

This unique training academy is state mandated for all police officers and covers firearms, legal administration, human relations, traffic, patrol, driving, subject control, investigations, civil disorder, physical conditioning and other aspects of law enforcement. Students apply direct, hands-on practice in the crime lab, firing range and police cruisers. With experienced, certified instructors and hands-on application, our students consistently achieve passing rates on the state-certified exam. Once graduates of the program earn the certification, they are immediately eligible for full-time employment.

As a criminal justice professional, you’ll hold a lot of responsibility within your position. Literally, lives depend on your education and training. It is important that you go into the field fully prepared with the skills you need to serve the community that has entrusted you in your position.

Criminal Justice Experiential Learning Center

At TU, a critical component of your skill training will take place in our Criminal Justice Experiential Learning Center (ELC). Many of your courses will use the ELC, where you’ll have the opportunity to link theory to practice utilizing the Center’s model counseling room and crime scene house. You’ll acquire hands-on experience in crime scene investigations, interviews and interrogations, evidence processing, report writing and more. You’ll leave here having already practiced many of the skills you’ll learn in the police academy and on the job.

Bringing Knowledge to Practice

• You’ll engage in hands-on, real-world learning experiences throughout your time at TU.
• You’ll conduct investigations of mock crime scenes.
• Our students have worked with police departments to help solve cold cases.
• You’ll gain real-world experience in a professional internship – our students have interned with US Marshals, dozens of police departments, The Washington Center, The FBI and more.
• You’ll hear from numerous guest speakers, accomplished professionals representing many areas of law enforcement.
• You’ll have the opportunity to conduct original research on a criminal justice topic that is important to you; you may even present your findings at TU’s Annual Research Conference.

CURRICULUM

Core Curriculum of the School of Criminal Justice = 18 hours

Law Enforcement Major = 47 hours

3 hours each – unless noted (to be taken in addition to Criminal Justice Core):

• CDS334 Technology and Crime
• COR120 Correctional Thought and Practice
• COR231 Juvenile Justice Systems
• ENF150 Police and Society
• ENF239 Applied Criminal Investigation and Criminalistics
• ENF293 Criminology (w)
• ENF335 Law Enforcement Supervision
• ENF355 Forensic Investigation of Sex Crimes
• ENF420 Investigative Interview
• ENF450 Crime Analysis
• ENF460 Evidence Processing (w) – 4 hours
• FOR105 Victimology
• JUS465 Criminal Trial Evidence – 4 hours
• JUS461 Capstone Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice (w)
• PSY101 Introduction to Psychology

Total = 47 hours

Total Bachelor of Criminal Justice hours = 121

This is a sample course sequence to illustrate course offerings for this major. Consult the official Academic Bulletin for detailed registration and advising information.

SAMPLE COURSES

Law Enforcement Supervision (ENF335) – A study of management theories and their impact on law enforcement agencies. Topics include, but are not limited to, agency structure, management of personnel, fiscal management and civil and criminal liabilities for police personnel.

Crime Analysis (ENF450) – An introduction to the concept, applications, and methods of crime analysis as it is employed in municipal, county, state and federal law enforcement and other criminal justice agencies. The course will include how to form a crime analysis unit which has effective relationships with patrol, criminal investigation and other field operations units, and will focus on methods of how to collect, collate, analyze and employ crime date to predict future criminal events, including when and where perpetrators will strike. Managerial and supervisory responsibilities in a crime analysis unit will also be discussed. The course is directed toward preparing students to obtain an entry-level crime analysis position in a law enforcement agency.

Juvenile Justice Systems (COR231) – The history, concepts and scope of the juvenile justice system and its contrast with the adult system of justice. Includes an analysis of the juvenile justice process from initial intervention of delinquency and status offenses by law enforcement personnel and others through release from intervention

Police and Society (ENF150) – A study of the various response methodologies available to the patrol officer in assisting the citizen’s request for police service. Discusses traffic enforcement from the stop of the violator through traffic accident investigation.

FORMAT

On Campus – Offered in a 15-week semester format with start dates of January and August

Law enforcement is a challenging, yet rewarding, career field, with a high number of job openings across the country. The field also offers career mobility, as police officers have the opportunity to work in a variety of areas within law enforcement.

CAREERS

• Administrator
• Bailiff
• Corrections
• Highway Patrol Officer
• Corporate Security
• County Sheriff’s Deputy
• Criminal Investigator
• Detective
• Fish and Game Warden
• Fraud Investigator
• Intelligence Analyst
• Narcotics
• Parole/Probation Officer (Adult or Juvenile)
• Police Officer
• Prosecutor’s Office Investigator
• School Resource Officer
• Security Guard
• Special Agent

WHERE TU GRADS HAVE WORKED

While it is extremely competitive to obtain such appointments, TU alumni have gone on to careers in these agencies:

• Abraxas Youth Family Service
• Bureau of Criminal Investigations
• Correctional Officer
• Federal Police Departments
• Local Police Departments
• Oriana House, Inc.
• Private Security
• Sheriff Departments
• State Police Departments
• US Department of the Army
• US Marine Corps

Both the Tiffin Chief of Police and Seneca County Sheriff are Tiffin University Criminal Justice alums.

GRADUATE SCHOOL

Many law enforcement students that enter the field do not return to graduate school because a bachelor’s degree is more than sufficient to reach the top ranks of a majority of law enforcement agencies in the country.

If graduate school becomes part of your career plan, however, Tiffin University has a large online graduate program in criminal justice with a variety of concentrations. Our students in these graduate programs often have decades of experience in the field and come to us to get their master’s degrees to attain top administrative positions, such as Chief of Police.

Tiffin University brings in instructors that have the education and the experience to pass on to our students.  Our instructors come from Toledo Police Department (OH), Perrysburg Police Division (OH), Norwalk Police Department (OH), Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office (OH), Wayne County Sheriff’s Office (OH), Lucas County Sheriff’s Office (OH), Weirton Police Department (WV), United States Secret Service, United States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, Ohio Army National Guard, and Ohio Air National Guard.   Our instructors have held roles as homicide detectives, crimes against person detectives, internet child pornography detectives, command officers, general detectives, chiefs of police, special agents, undercover narcotics agents, military police officers, road patrol officers, federal task force members and homeland security agents.