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Basic Law Enforcement (BLE) Academy

The Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center (MCLETC) offers a 16-week, 640-hour Basic Law Enforcement (BLE) Training Academy for newly hired police officers in Illinois. This program is approved by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB).

Throughout this 16-week resident program, recruits receive a combination of hands-on and classroom instruction to learn the fundamentals of being an officer. Working in law enforcement requires discipline, structure, and genuine care for the community. Our program combines a regimented physical training program with basic officer training and required community service experience to give these officers a well-rounded look at what to expect in the field.

Officers going through the program are eligible to earn 12 college credit hours through Richland Community College. Information on how to register for the credit is included in the program. Whether officers apply for college credit or not, they all receive access to Richland’s support services.

All courses have limited enrollment, so agencies are encouraged to register early to reserve spots in the class.

Enrollment Procedures

Departments should call the MCLETC at (217) 330-9091 or email Commander Walker at swalker@richland.edu to request anticipated enrollment reservations for the next academy class. However, enrollment will only be guaranteed once a completed registration packet has been received and approved by academy staff, by the application deadline.
Departments who have hired an officer, deputy, correctional officer or court security officer can provide the name, date of birth, PTB # and date of hire will be placed on the reserved list. If a completed registration packet is not received by the application deadline the department will lose the reserved spot.
Departments who have not hired or made conditional offers will be placed on a pending list until such time the name, date of birth, PTB# and date of hire can be provided. Once the appropriate information is obtained by academy staff, the department will be moved from the pending list to the reserved list, as openings are available. If a completed registration packet is not received by the application deadline the department will lose the reserved spot.
Application deadline will be the date of the announced early P.O.W.E.R test.
Departments are encouraged to participate in the early P.O.W.E.R test, to ensure a pending enrollment for another department is not lost due to a P.O.W.E.R test failure upon academy check-in.
Upon the completion of the early P.O.W.E.R test/re-test failures will result in the loss of the department’s reserved enrollment. Departments still on the pending list will be contacted for enrollment based on the date of the department’s original reservation request.
At any time a department is aware that a reserved or pending spot is no longer needed, MCLETC should be contacted as soon as possible.

Tuition Rates

The 2027 Tuition rates currently have not increased:

BLE Tuition: $8,140
BCO Tuition: $6,380

Tuition costs (paid by the agencies) cover training, housing and meals. Tuition is currently eligible for reimbursement from ILETSB.

MCLETC will send ONE INVOICE after graduation which will include tuition, electives, and rentals. If an agency supplies one full-time Class Advisor, MCLETC will discount the tuition (1-5 Recruits attending the same Academy- $4,070 to be credited for 1 student; 6 or more- $8,140, equivalent to 1 full Recruit tuition, to be credited. Agencies requesting 6 or more openings in one Academy Class are required to supply one Class Advisor, unless other arrangements have been pre-approved by the Commander) – effective 07/09/2026.

Course Dates

BLE Class RC26-30 is in session. Graduation is scheduled for December 18, 2026, at 11:30 AM.

RC27-31 | Sunday, January 3 – Friday, April 23, 2027
- Completed Registration Packet Deadline: Tuesday, December 1, 2026
- Early P.O.W.E.R Test: Tuesday, December 1, 2026, at 10 AM
- P.O.W.E.R Re-Test: Thursday, December 3, 2026, at 1 PM
RC27-32 | Sunday, May 2 – Friday, August 20, 2027
- Completed Registration Packet Deadline: Sunday, April 4, 2027
- Early P.O.W.E.R Test: Sunday, April 4, 2027, at 10 AM
- P.O.W.E.R Re-Test: Tuesday, April 6, 2027, at 1 PM
RC27-33 | Sunday, August 29 – Friday, December 17, 2027
- Completed Registration Packet Deadline: Sunday, August 1, 2027
- Early P.O.W.E.R Test: Sunday, August 1, 2027, at 10 AM