SWIC Police Academy
Full- Time Academy — Seats Available for Hired Officers!
Call 618.222.5396
Also accepting Intern Applications –
Visit the ‘Police Academy Intern’ page for more information
The Southwestern Illinois Police Academy (SWIPA) is a multi-faceted training facility that utilizes a combination of academia and practitioners to deliver a well-rounded law enforcement- based foundation of education. The end result of the training program is a state certified individual capable of performing at the entry level requirements of any local or county law enforcement agency in the state of Illinois. The basic training course includes all aspects of entry level law enforcement training to include strengthening good foundations of ethics, examining legal issues, citizen interaction, community oriented policing, investigative skills, state of the art firearms training and defensive tactics. The academy offers basic training for full-time and part-time police officers.
Since its inception in 1971, the Southwestern Illinois Police Academy graduates have been among the highest scoring state certification test score averages in the state.
We at SWIPA feel that our interactive classroom and use of instructors who are practitioners of the trade, facilitate learning and develop close relationships between recruits and modern day law enforcers. We consistently gather input from our client agency’s field training officers in an effort to ensure that the academy end product is meeting the needs of those agencies as well as satisfying state requirements. Virtually all of our staff have received training in instructor development and we ensure that the delivery of education is comprehensive and adaptable to each student. Lesson plans are updated on a timely basis to ensure delivery of current practices and legal applications. Practical exercises are incorporated throughout the sessions to provide hands-on application of learning and review of prior teachings.
We are proud of our facility and staff and receive a significant amount of support from our sponsoring institution, Southwestern Illinois College. We believe in providing equal opportunities of learning for all those who attend this facility and feel that we can instill the core values of law enforcement: Knowledge, Honor, and Integrity.
Certification Pass Rate
SWIC Police Academy Full Time State BLE Certification Exam Passage Rate.
The SWIC Police Academy is one of seven certified police academies in the State of Illinois. The SWIC Police Academy is certified by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. The 5 year (2019-2023) passage rate for the State BLE Certification Exam is 100%.
Contact information:
General Office Contact Information
618-222-5396
Fax: 618-236-1094
Address: 2300 West Main Street, Belleville, IL 62226
Eric Danford: Director
Direct Line: 618-222-5265 eric.danford@swic.edu
Brandon Dugger: Deputy Director
Direct Line: 618-641-4912 brandon.dugger@swic.edu
Scott Thompson: Training Coordinator
Direct Line: 618-222-5507 christopher.thompson@swic.edu
Dan Wunder: Training Coordinator
Direct Line: 618-641-5176 dan.wunder@swic.edu
Shannon Meier: Administrative Assistant
Direct Line: 618-222-5506 shannon.meier@swic.edu
Katie Carlton: Administrative Assistant
Direct Line: 618-222-5396 kathryn.carlton@swic.edu
State Regulatory Requirements
Meets Requirements in
This program MEETS the State educational requirements for licensure, certification or registry in: Illinois
Does not Meet Requirements in
This program DOES NOT MEET the State educational requirements for licensure, certification or registry in: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, American Samoa, District of Columbia, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
Changes?
Changes from Prior Year: N/A