Liberty University’s Helms School of Government and the Virginia State Police announced the launch of a groundbreaking partnership on Tuesday that enables eligible criminal justice students to complete their undergraduate degrees while simultaneously earning certification through the Virginia State Police Basic Trooper Academy.
The announcement and ribbon-cutting ceremony featured keynote speaker Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who made remarks in support of the partnership and of the Commonwealth’s heroes in law enforcement.
Liberty President Dondi E. Costin, Chancellor Jonathan Falwell, and representatives from the Virginia State Police were in attendance.
“What this reflects is not just a great partnership, but an innovation that is going to lead to more troopers on the street, an innovation that’s going to lead to more opportunities for Liberty students, and to do it in a much more efficient way,” Younkin said. “They’re going to be able to move through their academic cycle and, of course, their certification cycle through the basic session, and be at work quicker.”
“It takes organizations that are willing to think outside of the box,” Youngkin added. “And so, I just want to thank our friends who have come together to collaborate in this most extraordinary way … I’m so inspired because we are not only celebrating what a trooper’s heart looks like, but we are celebrating the heart of a student. We so firmly believe in the profession of serving in law enforcement that we are willing to not just innovate, but I believe that we have this obligation to support these men and women with everything we’ve got.”
Liberty University is the first institution to partner with the Virginia State Police in this capacity, which will streamline students’ paths from college to public service.
Col. Matthew Hanley, Superintendent of the Virginia State Police, said Liberty trains its students with the right principles necessary for the rigorous demands of law enforcement.
“The Virginia State Police is truly excited about this novel partnership with Liberty University, and frankly, I’m not aware of another program like it in the country,” said Hanley, noting one of his top goals as superintendent is to ensure sufficient staffing within the Virginia State Police.
“We need quality people … qualified people of high character, motivated, service-oriented individuals,” he said. “That is exactly why I’m excited about this partnership. We know what type of students are here at Liberty, because we already employ a bunch of them.”
He said the partnership will bolster growth within the Virginia State Police and provide opportunities for Liberty students to serve their communities immediately following graduation, accelerating the timeframe that puts trained troopers on the streets.
Hanley said students will have an abundance of career choices through this innovative program.
“I can assure you that no agency in the Commonwealth of Virginia has the same mission or opportunities that the Virginia State Police does. Whether your interest is in patrol, criminal investigations, aviation, canine, tactical team, scuba, search and rescue, bomb technicians, intelligence, the list goes on and on. We have it at the Virginia State Police. That’s why we’re a great choice for you to come to do really important work.”
In his closing remarks, Helms School of Government Dean Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Jason Bohm emphasized the mission of its criminal justice program in training the next generation of law enforcement professionals.
“Liberty University and the Helms School of Government takes seriously our responsibility to be good stewards of God’s gifts, to not only support our students but to also help our country and our communities,” Bohm said. “So, it’s with great pride that we can assist with the state recruit numbers, and provide men and women of honor, values, and character, to join the ranks of the Virginia State Police and all of our law enforcement community throughout this region and the great Commonwealth.”
The program’s inaugural student candidate, senior Matthew Wirth, thanked Liberty’s leadership, state officials, and law enforcement officers for the opportunity that has allowed him to pursue a career in law enforcement with confidence.
“I didn’t really know exactly what I wanted to do with (a criminal justice major), but I know the Lord sent me (to Liberty) for a reason,” he said. “So, I’m very blessed to have this opportunity to be a part of this program, and very blessed to be a part of the first class going into it.”
The Helms School of Government’s criminal justice program, the largest academic discipline within the government school, is instructed by a robust faculty roster of seasoned practitioners and educators, offering residential and online degrees in homeland security, crime scene investigation, juvenile justice, public administration, and more.