Protect and serve the community.
UVU is a satellite academy of Utah Peace Officer Standard and Training (POST). Our mission is to provide professional law enforcement training using state-of-the-art learning models, advanced technology and public safety best practices to meet the needs of Utah’s law enforcement community and the citizens we serve. The UVU Academy employs many local police officers, attorneys, and other specialists who are experience subject matter experts in specific areas: criminal law, defensive tactics, firearms, investigation, terrorism, and scenario based training (i.e., all critical skills).
Our current training officers hold ranks from officer through chiefs of police and demonstrate proper command presence and professional demeanor. Our program works diligently with each cadet to make their weakness into their strengths. Upon graduation, they have become certified to work as a police officer in any department in the state, investigator in state government, parole and probation, and / or any position requiring arrest powers.
Utah Valley University is a sanctioned provider of the Utah Law Enforcement Academy, the basic training program for certification of law enforcement officers. The academy is divided into two modules. The first, or core, provides training required for certification of special function officers and is foundational for law enforcement and correctional officers. The second module is required for certification as a reserve or law enforcement officer.
Lt. Kent Huntsman
Lt. Kent Huntsman is one of our lead instructors at UVU Police Academy. He has been with the Provo Police Department for 27 years and has taught at UVU for 25 years. Lt. Huntsman is our instructor for Patrol Concepts, Patrol Tactics, and Firearms. Lt. Huntsman has served on the Metro SWAT team for 21 years, Provo Firearms Team for 15 years, the Motors team for 10 years, Field Training- FTO, Detectives, OICI and SVU, as well as the Patrol Division. Lt. Huntsman currently serves in the Office of Professional Standards and Training in the Operational Support Division of the Provo Police Department.
DEPUTY GARY COFFEE
Deputy Gary Coffey has served with the Utah County Sheriff's Office for over 15 years, beginning his law enforcement career in Corrections before transitioning to Patrol/Enforcement. He is a certified explosive breacher with the Utah County Metro SWAT Team and currently oversees the Sheriff’s Office Defensive Tactics Program, which he founded in 2021. Through this program, he trains over 380 sworn deputies multiple times each year in critical use-of-force and control techniques.
A lifelong martial artist, Deputy Coffey began training in traditional Okinawan Karate, later adding boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to his skillset. He is the lead defensive tactics instructor for the Utah Valley University Police Academy, an adjunct instructor with C4C PJJ, and a certified Gracie Survival Tactics (GST) Level 1 and 2 instructor. He continues to train and compete locally in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, bringing real-world experience and a passion for officer safety and effectiveness to every class he teaches.
Lt. shane n. fredrickson
Lt. Shane N. Fredrickson is a lieutenant with the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office with 29 years in law enforcement. He currently commands the Investigations Division in Wasatch County and leads a multi-jurisdictional SWAT team. Lt. Fredrickson spent 24 years of his career working for the Orem Police Department and left that agency at the rank of lieutenant. While working for Orem PD, Lt. Fredrickson spent 17 years assigned to the Metro SWAT team and has been a SWAT instructor for the Countermeasures Tactical Institute for the past 11 years. He has been a POST certified firearms instructor for 18 years and a UVU Law Enforcement Academy firearms instructor for 12 years.
Reach out with questions about any of the following: application process or status, events, general information, deadlines, graduation, program pre-requisites, recommended preparation for the program, academic holds, or registration.
Loading Directory data....
