BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The Bowling Green Police Department (BGPD) has officially started its recruitment process for the April 2021 class. 

The department is currently training a class that will be set to graduate in November, but the recruitment class up next will be the first one in BGPD’s on-site police academy. 

Deputy Chief, Penny Bowles, says it’s important that the police force looks like the community it serves and should represent the serving nature of a community. 

“Our police agency should mirror our community that we serve and so we’re always looking for qualified people to join our family. You know in this social climate, policing is still an honorable profession. We still are here to serve our community and to be community leaders and community servants,” said Bowles. 

The Bowling Green police academy reevaluates itself every year, adopting new real-world scenarios and discussing topics relevant to the world we live in. Bowles says the best way to provide the best, is to be able to learn, change, and adapt. 

“We look and see what went well, what maybe we could’ve done something differently, what new topics we need to include, so after every training we already do an assessment of such,” said Bowles. 

To be a police officer you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 21-years-old, have a high school diploma or GED, no felonies, a good character, and a good driving record. Bowles said each applicant is looked at individually. She encourages anyone interested to ask questions and apply. 

“Just don’t automatically assume. You’ve always wanted to be a police officer, but I can’t because whatever it is, whatever it is may not be keeping you from being a police officer,” said Bowles. 

The deadline for submitting an application and testing registration is November 20. If you are interested in becoming apart of the BGPD, click here.