Students take one five-week class at a time, staying with the same group of adult learners, their cohort, throughout the degree program. With an associate degree or its equivalent, students can complete this program in just 18 months.

A new cohort for the criminal justice program will start March 25, 2019.

鈥淭his program is designed for students who don鈥檛 work the traditional 8-5 job in the different areas of criminal justice and are not able to attend on-campus classes. This is a great opportunity for anyone wanting to start or further their career in the field of criminal justice.鈥�

Employers have hailed HLGU鈥檚 Degree Completion Program as an innovative and exceptionally effective approach for those wishing to continue their education. Both traditional in-seat and online programs are offered in convenient time frames for working adults. Additional degree programs offered include business management and social services.

For more information, or to receive individual advising and a degree plan, contact Kayla McBride at 573.629.3050, or via email at kmcbride@hlg.edu.

Judge Bringer-Shepherd spoke to the criminal justice majors on the importance of an independent judiciary in a free society. She also addressed local issues and challenges for the tenth circuit court, most of which relate to substance abuse.

She gave students ideas on how to get involved in the community, explaining to them that the number of children in foster care has risen more than 100% in the last eight years, primarily due to the drug epidemic.

Regarding substance abuse and how HLGU students can help, Judge Bringer-Shepherd said, 鈥淭his is a wonderful opportunity to serve and minister and carry Christ into your profession every day.鈥�

A question-and-answer session followed in which one of the topics involved was how the judge鈥檚 balance of justice and mercy was explored. Other topics of discussion included the structure of Missouri courts, her path to the judiciary, and how criminal justice majors should value the importance of family.

The HLGU Criminal Justice Department regularly holds events such as these for their students to learn from someone who has experienced a successful career in the field.

For more information on the criminal justice department, contact Bruce Capp, criminal justice department chair, at 573-629-3064, or via email at bcapp@hlg.edu.

by Rebecca Sneed ’12

The HLGU students enjoyed serving at this free event which provides a safe and fun environment for children and families to enjoy themselves.

Cpl. Jonathan Borgmeyer of the Hannibal Police Department stressed the importance of HLGU students鈥� involvement by telling the students that the program could not have gone on as well without their participation.

HLGU Criminal Justice Professor Bruce Capp commented, 鈥淚 am always happy when our students willingly provide community service and are involved with the citizens of Northeast Missouri. However, I have never been prouder to see future criminal justice professionals interact with these children.鈥�

HLGU students participating included Rory Clay, Jonathan Kingery, Gavin McDaniel, Daniel Brody, Dottie Turner, Andrew Douglas, Chase Hawes, Nathan Vincenzi, and Kamey Fiedler.

The simulator allows law enforcement officers to prepare for different life-like scenarios without the real-life consequences as they experience simulated traffic stops, active shooter situations, ambushes, burglaries, and more.

The MILO Range Simulator’s high definition video makes each simulated training look and feel as life-like as possible. The scenario library offers more than 500 different video options and is updated to offer training in the latest security measures.

The presentation will be directed by Mr. Jeff Arp of the Missouri Intergovernmental Risk Management Association, a municipal trust located in Jefferson City.

This demonstration will benefit Mr. Brady Sowers鈥� Police Operations and Tactics class and Mr. Bruce Capp鈥檚 Civil Liability course. The simulator allows law enforcement officers to prepare for different life-like scenarios without the real-life consequences as they experience simulated traffic stops, active shooter situations, ambushes, burglaries, and more.

Criminal Justice Professor Bruce Capp commented, 鈥淭he goal in mind of a firearms training simulator is to enhance an officer鈥檚 tactical judgement on whether to use lethal or less-than-lethal force. It is better to have this type of training before such a situation is encountered in the field. We want our criminal justice students to be appreciative of the current training available to law enforcement.鈥�

For more information on the event, contact Bruce Capp at 573-629-3064, or via email at bcapp@hlg.edu.

Mr. Juden was named director of the DPS by Gov. Eric Greitens on Jan. 2, 2017.

While on campus, Mr. Juden spoke on his role as director of the MO DPS and changes and advances in the field of public safety to roughly 40 attendees comprised of law enforcement officers and HLGU students and personnel.

Speaking in regards to social media, Mr. Juden said, 鈥淲e as a society have turned into an insatiable desire for immediate news鈥nd that鈥檚 a challenge as law enforcement that we are wrestling with every day because we are bound by certain statutes.

鈥淪o one of the things that we as law enforcement are very poor at is marketing ourselves,鈥� he continued. 鈥淥ur pledge to move forward with is that we are going to market all of our organizations within DPS. We are going to do a Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. We are going to be out there. In previous administrations it was forbidden, but we are going to tell our story because we do a lot of good things and most people don鈥檛 know about it because we don鈥檛 want to pat ourselves on the back, but they need to know about it because it鈥檚 fair that you know both sides of the story.鈥�

Mr. Juden also spoke on the benefits of police officers being equipped with Tasers, and in more recent years, with body cameras.

He challenged students to 鈥渄o a self-check in the mirror鈥� saying, 鈥淚f you want to be a police officer today, you better have high moral standards and be very ethical because if it鈥檚 not caught on a video camera that you鈥檙e wearing, it will be caught on video that someone else is running, because I promise you that everything we do today as law enforcement is under a microscope. You have to be truthful, you have to be honest.鈥�

Before closing with a Q&A session, Mr. Juden reminded those in attendance that though a public safety department may have many missions, 鈥渨e only have one goal, and that goal is to protect and to serve the citizens of the state.鈥�

Prior his appointment as Missouri DPS Director, Mr. Juden was director of the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, where he served since 1978 and was one of the department鈥檚 first three public safety officers.

Prior to holding the position of director in Sikeston, Juden developed many courses in fire science and criminal justice; he is both a state and national level certified instructor. He was Sikeston鈥檚 first training officer. He also served as a squad sergeant and a shift commander in the police division. He has held the positions of fire and police division commander.

Under Juden鈥檚 leadership in 2011, the Sikeston Department of Public Safety was chosen as the pilot agency as the state of Missouri began to build its statewide interoperable communications system, known as MOSWIN. In that role, he worked closely with the Missouri Department of Public Safety to develop policies and implement the system that enables real-time, seamless, agency-to-agency and discipline-to-discipline interoperable communications.

Director Juden is a member of the State of Missouri Homeland Security Advisory Council. Previously, he served as a member of the board of directors of the SEMO Major Case Squad, SEMO Drug Task Force, and is the founding member of SEMO Bomb Team. He served as president of the Missouri Police Chiefs Association in 2015.

In 2008, Director Juden received the Missouri Police Chiefs Association鈥檚 Donald “Red” Loehr Outstanding Police Chief Award. He has received many awards locally, including Outstanding Young Law Enforcement Officer, Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, and Citizen of the Year.

The Missouri Department of Public Safety comprises eight different agencies (including two commissions) and six separate programs all committed to ensuring the safety of the citizens of Missouri. Additionally, the office of the director administers the Homeland Security Program and state and federal funds in grants for juvenile justice, victims鈥� assistance, law enforcement, and narcotics control.

Other programs in the director鈥檚 office provide support services and resources to assist local law enforcement agencies and to provide training criteria and licensing for law enforcement officers.

by Rebecca Sneed ’12