FDLTCC Peace Officer Expo Readies Next Generation of Law Enforcement

CLOQUET, Minn. — As police departments across the country are struggling to be fully staffed, police agencies in Minnesota are looking to hire the next generation of officers for the front line.

At Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College more than 35 departments from local, county, state and federal agencies attended this year’s Peace Officer and Criminal Justice Expo.

The event was free and open to the public, but was a great chance for students at Fond du Lac’s criminal justice program to see where they could end up.

“Agencies are going to roll out their best for you. They’re going to really put their best foot forward to show you what they can provide for you,” said Joel Olejnicak, a FDLTCC criminal justice and peace officer coordinator. “As far as a career, and then they are very interested in really getting to know you and what do you have to offer to them as a department for long term. A lot of these places want to have have you stick around for 20 to 30 year career.”

This year the tribal college is expecting 15 students to completing the Skills Training in the summer.

The college’s criminal justice and peace officer program has around 50 students enrolled as a whole.