Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and the Mississippi Highway Patrol signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on March 1, 2023, at MGCCC’s Harrison County Campus. The MHP’s Candidates on Rapid Entry (C.O.R.E.) program is designed to put more Mississippi Highway Patrol officers on the roadways.

It comes as law enforcement agencies all over the country struggle with staffing.

“This is an important new part of our Criminal Justice program that will provide a much wider pool of suitable candidates for the Mississippi Highway Patrol Academy,” said Dr. Mary S. Graham, MGCCC president.  “We look forward to graduating our first section of students who are MGCCC and C.O.R.E. trained.”

Starting this fall, Criminal Justice students can take part in this program and get direct entry into Highway Patrol school upon completion. For two semesters, a state trooper will work with students twice a week, training them physically and mentally.  The year-long program will give candidates an advantage on actual trooper training, which lasts about five months.

Speakers at the event included Dr. Graham and Sean Tindell, commissioner, Mississippi Department of Public Safety.  The event also included a swearing-in ceremony for Harrison County Campus Police Chief Matt Thomas.