by Jasmine Cooper

Cole earned his bachelor’s degree from Drury in 2004 and completed his MBA in 2011. His strong connection to the university continues today as he serves as a Law Enforcement Academy instructor. Passionate about shaping the next generation of officers, he offers students invaluable, hands-on experience at the newly constructed Webster County Justice Center and local jail, ensuring they are well-prepared for the challenges they’ll face in the field.

The Law Enforcement Academy has grown into a respected program known for powerful advantages and exceptional outcomes for graduates. Initially a partnership with the Springfield Police Department, the academy became an independent program in 2005 under former director Tony Bowers, who served for 18 years. Bowers expanded the academy’s instructional staff, bringing in experts from smaller agencies and the highway patrol to better reflect the communities where most graduates would work.

Ozark Police Department Chief Justin Arnold ’09, is a Drury Law Enforcement Academy graduate and attributes much of the academy’s success to those diverse, experienced instructors. “Drury focuses on bringing in true practitioners in law enforcement who are successful in the profession and serve as positive role models,” Arnold says. “These instructors teach students the right way to serve, aligned with the values of the communities we protect.”

After earning his bachelor’s degree in 2009, Arnold was recruited by Bowers to teach in the academy, where he focuses on leadership development. “Leaders solve problems, and when people have problems, they call law enforcement. It’s crucial for academy students to understand that the moment they put on that badge, they are leaders and problem-solvers for their communities,” he says.

Another standout feature of the academy is the opportunity for students to earn college credit hours. Graduates who complete the program receive a Drury Law Enforcement Studies Certificate and 24 college credit hours. This opens doors for financial aid and provides a clear path toward degree completion — a benefit many, like Arnold and Cole, have utilized.

Today, the Drury Law Enforcement Academy is led by Executive Director Chris Johns ’97 MPSSL ’22, who was promoted in 2023 after heading Drury Safety and Security. A retired officer from the Springfield Police Department, Johns brings invaluable experience and insight into the academy’s mission. He emphasizes the importance of preparing students to become leaders in their communities and reminding them that they are integral parts of those communities.

“One overarching theme we stress from the beginning is that police cannot do their jobs without the community. The police are the people, and the people are the police. We are all part of the same whole,” he says.

The academy’s training extends beyond the classroom. In 2023, the program relocated from the southeastern edge of campus to Springfield Hall at the heart of campus. This move allows academy students to engage more directly with the broader Drury community. Johns has also created intentional service opportunities for students, such as assisting with Freshman Move-In Day and collaborating with the Art Department on a mural project.

“Every interaction we have, whether with students or faculty, strengthens or weakens our bond with the community. I stress to the students that this is critical,” Johns says.

The Drury Law Enforcement Academy embodies the OneDrury commitment to building strong connections between the campus and the surrounding community. Graduates like Sheriff Cole and Chief Arnold exemplify the values instilled by the Drury Difference, serving as respected leaders who champion integrity and cultivate meaningful connections within their communities.

With record-breaking class sizes and innovative initiatives like the West Plains Mirror Academy, launched in 2023, the academy continues to broaden its reach. Under Johns’ leadership, the program has strengthened its focus on service and collaboration, aligning more closely with Drury University’s broader mission of developing exceptional leaders and achieving outcomes that resonate far beyond the campus.

To learn more about the program or to start your application, click here.

Captain Jason Fleetwood’s ’11 journey from student to leader at the Drury Law Enforcement Academy is a testament to the program’s transformative power. Graduating in December 2011, he immediately applied his skills, joining the Nixa Police Department in April 2012.

“I can tell you from my own experience in recruiting and just working with various officers, that the Drury academy is light years ahead of some of the other academies in our area as far as preparing a student to go take on the role of a police officer,” he says. “We’ve had really good experiences with Drury students when we hire them here at Nixa.”

In 2014, Fleetwood returned to the Drury academy — not as a student, but as an instructor, recruited by Executive Director Chris Johns.

As an instructor, Fleetwood’s philosophy reflects Drury’s emphasis on developing leaders from day one. He believes that introducing academy students to leadership perspectives early on equips them to take on greater responsibilities later in their careers. “I want to develop future leaders who can step into their communities with a guardian mindset — focusing on protecting citizens’ safety and civil rights while fostering trust,” he says.

Through his leadership and dedication, Fleetwood embodies the Drury Difference, carrying its values into his department and ensuring its legacy through his mentorship of aspiring officers.