Henderson, Nev. Nevada State College is not only training our community’s leaders of tomorrow, it is already training our community’s leaders of today.
Many law enforcement officials from around the valley are continuing their education through the institution’s Public Administration Law Enforcement Program, including two of the Henderson Police Department’s top officials.
Henderson’s two deputy chiefs, Jutta Chambers and James White, chose the Nevada State College program to further their career development. Chambers graduated with a degree in December 2005 while White is scheduled to graduate this spring.
Chambers said her experience at Nevada State College helped her in the process of being named Henderson’s newest deputy chief.
Not only did it help me prepare for the position, but it also made me more appealing during the selection process, said Chambers, who has been with the Henderson Police Department since 1983. It is a well-designed program that works for law enforcement professionals. Not only does it relate well with the real world, but it is logistically designed well for working professionals to be able to balance education, work and our personal lives.
Practitioners in the law enforcement field within the state of Nevada designed the curriculum concept. Students take courses in law enforcement, leadership and public administration, and organizational management in preparation for the challenges they face as law enforcement managers in the 21st century.
As deputy chief, Chambers oversees the department’s Support Command and supervises all units except for patrol. White’s role as deputy chief in the department is to oversee the Operations Command. He has been with the Henderson Police Department since 1988.
Like for any working student, it is a challenge to balance work and school, said White, who takes a mixture of online courses as well as traditional classroom courses. But the degree program is definitely worthwhile. As law enforcement managers, we are responsible for providing leadership to the agency stakeholders. This is much more complex than it used to be. Today we have to be able to adapt to rapid technology changes, interact with diverse groups of citizens and manage operations within limited budgets. The program addresses all of this.
The objective of the baccalaureate degree in public administration is to provide current and future managers with the professional skills and management tools necessary to succeed in the administration of a law enforcement agency within the State of Nevada. According to Nevada State College representatives, social science courses are necessary to understand the many complex community policing issues in a diverse society. It is also important to understand the importance of culture and rituals in law enforcement organizations.
While Chambers and White represent current top leaders, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sergeant Jim Seebock represents a future leader. Already a well-respected sergeant within the department, Seebock said he is earning his degree from Nevada State College as he weighs his options for the future.
There are so many different opportunities for us within Metro, but no matter what path I choose to take, this program will help to prepare me to be the best supervisor I can be, said Seebock, who was a decorated K-9 officer prior to his promotion to sergeant. This program is serving the community because it is preparing our law enforcement professionals for the challenges that lie ahead of us. Prior to Nevada State College offering this program, our higher educational options were limited.
For more information on Nevada State College, call: 702.992.2000 or visit: nsc.edu.
Law Enforcement Programs Benefitting Professionals at NSC
