Police / Train for Skill
BOWLING GREEN LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY
BGLEA was founded in 2020 by the Bowling Green Police Department in partnership with the Department of Criminal Justice Training. The Academy is hosted in Bowling Green for new Police Department Recruits. The Academy is 20 weeks and taught by BGPD instructors, local legal professionals and other members of the community. Academy participants do not have to stay overnight or be away from their families. Recruits attend the Academy like a normal 40-hour work week.
Overview of Curriculum and Training Areas
Administration: Ceremonial and administrative components. This section also includes the academy’s best day: graduation!
Legal: Law enforcement education conducted by our county and commonwealth attorneys, which offers students an opportunity to get to know the legal team they will be working with. This relationship-building process especially benefits students after they graduate.
Patrol, Tactics, and Lifesaving: This block is the core of the academy. It encompasses basic skills such as report writing and traffic stops, more complicated skills such as building clearing and response to active attacks and complex scenarios that allow our recruits to practice the job before it becomes real life. This block also includes our life-saving skills: first aid, CPR, and tactical medical care.
Defensive Tactics: In these classes, our recruits learn to keep themselves and those they protect safe through lessons on hand-to-hand combat, ground fighting, batons, pepper spray, and Tasers.
Driving: Our recruits hone their skills in non-emergency response and emergency response driving. This is often considered one of the more enjoyable weeks.
Firearms: Introduction, exercise and certification on the appropriate use of both handgun and patrol rifle as well as tactical exercises and off-duty firearm safety.
Wellness: Law enforcement can be a grueling career. We do everything we can to set our recruits up with coping skills for not only them, but their families to help ensure a healthy and well balanced career.
Crime Scene: Learn how to lift fingerprints, analyze physical and digital evidence, and report all of this so others can understand. This section helps officers generate strong cases for both major and minor crimes.
Criminal Investigations: In these classes recruits learn the basics of interview and interrogation along with methods to investigate complex and serious cases.
Communication and Humanities: this block starts with ethics, the foundation of our academy. From there our recruits learn communication skills and methods for effective communication with at risk and marginalized groups. This block also trains our officers on the appropriate response to individuals in mental health or substance use crisis.
MEET THE INSTRUCTORS
Geoffrey Gleitz
Assistant Chief Geoffrey Gleitz is the Academy Director. He has been with the Bowling Green Police Department since 2007. Major Gleitz previously served in the Patrol and Investigations Divisions. He is a former member and commander of both the Critical Response Team and UAS Team. Major Gleitz has been with the Bowling Green Law Enforcement Academy since its inception in 2020. Major Gleitz served in the Army for 20 years, both active and National Guard.
Jennie McShane
Captain Jennie McShane has been with the department for 12 years. During that time, she has been a patrol officer, patrol sergeant, training sergeant, and training captain. She has been a member of the collision reconstruction team and the negotiation team. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and a Master’s degree in Kinesiology from Indiana University. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Western Kentucky University.
Bernard Wiedemer
Sergeant Bernard Wiedemer has been with the Bowling Green Police Department since 2007. Prior to coming to the training division, he served in Patrol and CID as a supervisor. He is a member of the Motor Unit and the Honor Guard. Sergeant Wiedemer is the lead firearms instructor for the department and the Academy. He served in the US Army for over 23 years, both active and reserves.
Michael Jonker
Sergeant Michael Jonker has been with BGPD since 2010. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Grand Valley State University and holds a Master’s Degree in Forensic Science from University of Florida. Sergeant Jonker is a KLEC certified instructor in multiple areas including firearms, less lethal weapons, defensive tactics, driving, and physical fitness. He currently serves as the Police Training Officer Coordinator.
Thomas Bugsch
Sergeant Thomas Bugsch joined the Bowling Green Police Department in 2015 after serving 8 years in the United States Navy. He has been a member of the Critical Response Team since 2017 and currently holds the position of Team Leader. Aside from his duties in the Training Division, he is an instructor in firearms, tactical combat casualty care, less lethal weapons, field force, and driving.
Jennifer Willis
Sergeant Jennifer Willis began her career with the Bowling Green Police Department in 2009. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Northern Kentucky University and currently serves as the lead Defensive Tactics Instructor and In-House coordinator for the department. Before joining the Training Division, Sgt. Willis served in Patrol, where she worked as a Patrol Sergeant. Sgt. Willis is certified as an ALERRT Instructor, Firearms Instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor, P.T. Instructor, Less Lethal Instructor, and Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Instructor.
