CLEET To Seek Another $700,000

ADA, Okla. (AP) _ The state Council on Law Enforcement and Training plans to seek another $700,000 from state lawmakers next year. <br/><br/>The agency says it needs another $200,000 to pay instructors

Wednesday, August 1st 2007, 2:28 pm

By: News On 6

ADA, Okla. (AP) _ The state Council on Law Enforcement and Training plans to seek another $700,000 from state lawmakers next year.

The agency says it needs another $200,000 to pay instructors after lawmakers increased the number of training hours required to graduate from the academy.

Cadets must now complete 375 hours. But an extra 130 hours will be required beginning in December.

The agency plans to add 71 hours of training in 2008 and 24 hours in 2009 to bring the agency up to the national average of about 600 training hours for police academies.

The council is also seeking an additional $500,000 to increase instructor pay to a level competitive with similar agencies.