The National Parks Service (NPS) Park Ranger Law Enforcement Academy (PRLEA, formerly known as the Seasonal Law Enforcement Training Program) debuted at Colorado Northwestern Community College (CNCC) in the early 2000’s. Since that time, hundreds of graduates have obtained employment in National Parks across the United States, State Parks, and other local police agencies around the country.
Housed on our Rangely, Colorado campus, the PRLEA Program and Colorado Northwestern is surrounded by a bastion of public lands and wilderness. There are numerous National Parks such as Arches NP, Canyonlands NP, Dinosaur NM, Rocky Mountain NP, Colorado NM, and others within a day’s drive from campus providing diverse opportunities for outdoor recreation and integration of local parks into academic instruction.
PRLEA students prepping for their rifle course on the firing range.
Our program consistently exceeds the training requirements of other local and state law enforcement (LE) agencies thus allowing a graduate of the CNCC PRLEA to be employed by other LE agencies without having to attend yet another LE Academy. Examples of LE agencies employing CNCC PRLEA graduates are Steamboat Springs Colorado PD, Rifle Colorado PD Rangely, Colorado PD, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Washington State Parks, Utah Division of Parks and Wildlife, and others.
Charles Huyck, the current Director of the CNCC PRLEA, draws from a vast background of 28 years law enforcement experience as a former DEA Special Agent, BLM Special Agent, CGIS Resident Agent in Charge, FLETC Supervisory Instructor and Program Manager in training students. The strength of the CNCC PRLEA lies in its wide diversity of adjunct instructors which range from retired and current U.S. Fish and Wildlife Officers, NPS Rangers, FLETC Legal Instructors, former U.S. Army Green Beret, former U.S. Marine Corp small arms specialist, Vietnam War Veterans, state and local deputy sheriffs and police officers, among others.
Students and Program Director, Charles Huyck, during their surveillance training.
The expert training students receive cover a variety of topics. Critical elements for LE training include: firearms training, control tactics, driver training, legal, behavioral science, patrol procedures, and more. Upon completion of the program, students receive a Type-II certificate allowing for seasonal LE employment with NPS, as well as training and certification in oleoresin capsicum (pepper) spray, TASER deployment, RADAR, and more.
PRLEA students at graduation – 16 weeks of non-stop training.
The CNCC PRLEA has a very disciplined approach to training and is quasi paramilitary. The program demands discipline, respect, honor, integrity, and professionalism in keeping with other basic law enforcement academies. A usual week consists of forty plus hours of lecture mixed with labs and practical exercises. The program is offered twice per year, in the Fall and Spring semesters, at CNCC and certificates can be completed in as little as 16 weeks.
CNCC provides an optional AAS degree that can be earned either prior to or following the PRLEA by taking a few additional general education courses. The program also offers certifications in Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and Search and Rescue (SAR) which can be obtained while attending the PRLEA.
For more information, reach out to Charles Huyck, or Kathy Kottenstette (Program Coordinator) at charles.huyck@cncc.edu (970-675-3336) or kathy.kottenstette@cncc.edu (970-675-3337).
