JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – If the budget agreement pending final approval in Tallahassee includes $2 million to fund a police academy at Edward Waters College.
The Center for Criminal Justice and Forensic Science would allow students at the historically black college to take criminal justice and forensic science classes while simultaneously attending police academy.
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The goal of lawmakers is to increase the number of qualified minorities trained as police officers.
Wanda Willis, EWC's assistant vice president for institutional advancement, says she can see many students taking advantage of the program.
"It would make our students more marketable upon graduation with a criminal justice degree and a law enforcement certification," Willis said. "We'd of course like to see our streets a lot safer and I know that we would be able to attract more students who would want to go into law enforcement"
State Sen. Chris Smith, the Fort Lauderdale Democrat who sponsored the legislation, says his goal is to diversify police departments in Florida.
Florida's nearly $80 billion budget expected to be pass by the Legislature on Friday, then head to Gov. Rick Scott. Scott, who does have line-item veto power.
Contains content from Lindsey Kilbride, WJCT-FM 89.9 News