Program ensures graduates not only think on their feet, but hit the street running

Florida State University’s College of Criminology and Criminal Justice leads the nation in research and education. Coupled with this distinction, the College is taking things a step further by developing a partnership with a state-certified law enforcement academy where students must complete the academy’s rigorous requirements to become law enforcement officers. Partnerships like these ensure that graduates from our College not only think on their feet, but hit the street running.

Through a partnership with the Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy, FSU criminology students can earn their college degrees and their State Officer Certifications at the same time. The program is designed to provide the most well-educated and highly trained police officer candidates in Florida. Public and private partners have endowed the first seven scholarships in a planned 25-member cohort.

The scholarships include the:

• Ernest K. Ponce de Leon Memorial Scholarship
• Florida Sheriffs Association Memorial Scholarship
• Sgt. Daniel “Dale” Green Memorial Scholarship
• Jacksonville Law Enforcement Academy Program (LEAP) Scholarship
• Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office LEAP Scholarship
• Walton County Sheriff’s Office LEAP Scholarship
• Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office LEAP Scholarship

These partnerships and scholarships will help high-performing students alleviate the stress of paying multiple tuitions and allow them to focus on maximizing their education and training to continue the Florida State tradition of preparing the next generation of law enforcement leaders.

LEAP Levels of Support