Police Training & Education Career Transition

Jason Childers has been teaching at Alexandria Technical & Community College Since 2003. He is a 1991 Graduate of the Law Enforcement Program and was a Law Enforcement Officer and use of force, defense tactics, and firearms instructor at both the city and county levels prior to coming to teach at ATCC.

Education

• A.A.S Degree, Law Enforcement, Alexandria Technical & Community College
• MN P.O.S.T. Licensed 1991

Occupational History

• Jailor - Washington County Sheriff's Department, MN
• Police Officer - Cambridge Police Department, MN
• Police Officer - Mora Police Department, MN
• Police Officer - Metropolitan Transit Police, MN
• Deputy Sheriff - Washington County Sheriff's Department, MN
• Law Enforcement Instructor - Alexandria Technical & Community College, MN

Certified Instructor in the following areas

• Master Instructor Defense Tactics, Baton, PR-24 and Handcuffing - Monadnock/Safariland Training Council
• Krav Maga Law Enforcement Instructor - Krav Maga Worldwide
• Gracie Survival Tactics Level 2 Instructor - Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy
• Law Enforcement Physical Fitness Specialist - Cooper Institute
• Public Safety Wellness Instructor - National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
• OC, Chemical Agents, Distraction Devices, Specialty Impact Munitions Instructor - Safariland Training Group
• S.P.E.A.R System Instructor - Blauer Tactical Systems
• Advanced Taser Instructor X-26/X2/X26P - Taser International
• Handgun/Shotgun Instructor
• Police Rifle Instructor
• Live Fire Facility Instructor
• Ground Defense, Knife Defense and Maximal Empty Hand Control Techniques Instructor - Minnesota Kali Group

Mike has been teaching at ATCC since 2009. Prior to teaching at ATCC, Mike also taught as an adjunct instructor at St. Cloud Technical College and Hamline School of Business. Mike is a licensed attorney in the State of Minnesota, and practiced law for 25 years before retiring his practice in 2019. His practice included several years representing cities in Anoka County in both civil and criminal prosecution cases.

Education

• Juris Doctor, Hamline School of Law, 1996
• Masters in Public Policy, Hamline School of Business, 1997
• Bachelor of Arts, Hamline University, 1993
• Law Enforcement Summer Skills Program, Alexandria Technical & Community College, 1990
• Associate of Arts, Law Enforcement, Lakewood Community College, 1990

Occupational History

• Attorney at Randall, Goodrich & Haag, PLLC, in Anoka, MN. General practice attorney
• Haag Law Offices, P.A. Owner and President of firm
• Hellmuth & Johnson, PLLC. Associate Attorney
• Henningson & Snoxell, Ltd. Associate Attorney
• Dunkley & Bennet, P.A. Associate Attorney

Began teaching at ATCC as a full-time instructor in 2006 after working as a police officer for 20 years. Taught at ATCC for approximately five years as an Adjunct Instructor before full-time employment.

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement, 2016, Metro State University
• MN P.O.S.T. certified - 1986
• 1986 graduate of ATCC (AAS Degree in Law Enforcement)
• 1984 graduate of Olivia High School

Occupational History

• 2006 - 2018: Parkers Prairie Police Dept. (part-time patrol officer)
• 1999 - 2006: Alexandria Police Dept. (6 years patrol, 1 year investigations, member of S.W.A.T. Team)
• 1986 - 1999: Glencoe Police Dept. (5 years patrol, 7 years investigations, member of S.W.A.T Team)

Instructor Certifications

• Firearms
• Use of Force
• TASER
• Expandable Baton
• Controlled FORCE
• PPCT (Pressure Point Control Tactics)
• Armorer - Glock and Remington
• ALICE Instructor
• Active Shooter Instructor

Rebecca Swanson began teaching at Alexandria College in the spring of 2002 after being an adjunct instructor for two years. Prior to being a Police Training and Education instructor, she served as a peace officer and paramedic with Woodbury Public Safety and as a correctional officer and parks ranger for the Dakota County Sheriff's Office. 

Education

• B.S. degree, Criminal Justice, Bemidji State University 1993 
• Skills certificate, Center for Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Training 1994 
• Minnesota P.O.S.T. licensed 1994 
• E.M.S.R.B. licensed, School of Emergency Medical Technician Training / Paramedic, Inver Hills Community College 1996 
• Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Teaching Series, license 2001 
• M.A. degree, Human Services/Criminal Justice Leadership, Concordia State University St. Paul 2004 
• Presently pursuing an M.S. degree in Clinical Mental Health at Minnesota State University Moorhead 

Occupational History

• Correctional officer – Dakota County Sheriff's Department, MN 
• Parks ranger – Dakota County Sheriff's Department, MN  
• Peace officer – Woodbury Public Safety, MN 
• Paramedic
• Drug Abuse Resistance Education officer
• Community relations host for public television
• Investigations 
• Honor Guard
• Police Training and Education instructor – Alexandria College, MN
• Introduction to Criminal Justice & Patrol Procedures 
• Traffic Law / Traffic Stops  
• Firearms and Survival Training  
• Police Tactical Management & Training  
• Tactical Communications & Relations
• Appointed to the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training Licensure Board, Higher Education seat 
• Vice chair
• Training Committee, chair
• Complaints Committee
• Executive Committee
• Gallup’s Clifton StrengthsFinder, 2021
  • Individualization 
  • Strategic 
  • Connectedness 
  • Ideation 
  • Restorative

Mandi VanOverbeke began teaching at Alexandria Technical & Community College as a full-time instructor in 2015. She is a 2001 graduate of the ATCC Skills Program and was a Law Enforcement Officer and Investigator prior to coming to teach at ATCC. She was previously employed at Ridgewater College as a full-time Instructor and Professional Peace Officer Education (PPOE) Coordinator. She taught at St. Cloud State University for approximately five years as an Adjunct Instructor.

Education

• Skills Certificate, Law Enforcement, Alexandria Technical & Community College
• MN P.O.S.T Licensed 2001
• B.S. Degree, Criminal Justice, St. Cloud State University
• M.S. Degree, Criminal Justice, St. Cloud State University

Occupational History

• Jailor - Douglas County Sheriff's Department, MN
• Police Officer - St. Cloud Police Department, MN
  • Field Training Officer
  • Community Crime Impact Team
  • Crisis Intervention Coach
  • PR-24 Instructor
  • Honor Guard
  • President of the Police Benefit Association
• Investigator - St. Cloud Police Department, MN
• Professional Peace Officer Education Coordinator and Instructor - Ridgewater College, MN
• Law Enforcement Instructor - Alexandria Technical & Community College, MN