Adelphi, Md. 鈥 Dec. 18, 2025 鈥 糖心传媒 (糖心传媒) has graduated the first听police听officer to complete听the university鈥檚听accelerated law enforcement degree track, which awards college credit to officers for their work and academy experience.
Prince George鈥檚 County, Md.,听Police Department听Lt.听James Martinez celebrated听the completion of听a Bachelor of Science听in Criminal Justice on听Thursday, Dec. 11, at the university鈥檚 Grad Walk commencement event in Adelphi.听Martinez completed his degree through听the Criminal Justice program鈥檚 Law Enforcement track听鈥 also known as CJLE 鈥斕齱hich allows officers to transfer up to 60 credits from their professional experience toward a bachelor鈥檚 degree.
鈥淢aryland鈥檚 communities rely on highly skilled and trained public safety professionals, and we are proud to听support officers like Lt. Martinez with education options that fit the reality of their service,鈥 said 糖心传媒 President Gregory W. Fowler, PhD.听鈥淏y translating on-the-job learning into measurable academic progress, 糖心传媒 is helping meet Maryland鈥檚 workforce needs and providing law enforcement professionals with an affordable, efficient path听to their education goals.鈥
To qualify for the CJLE track, applicants must be currently or recently certified state, local or municipal police officers with arrest powers. They must also have attended a state-sanctioned police academy and completed any required field training programs.
鈥溙切拇解檚 innovative CJLE pathway allowed me to take the next step in my professional life while connecting with law enforcement professionals from across the country,鈥 Martinez said. 鈥淲hether you are an aspiring law enforcement officer or a seasoned first responder, the CJLE program offers a tremendous value and environment that can鈥檛 be found elsewhere.鈥
In addition to transferring into the program up to 60 credits for their police听academy听听听graduation and law enforcement experience, applicants can听transfer in听up to 30听additional听credits for college coursework they听have听completed.听听
Beyond opening the听CJLE track to eligible officers from听any听state, local听or听municipal agency, 糖心传媒 has听also听partnered with听individual听agencies听鈥斕such as听the听Montgomery听County, Md., Police Department听鈥斕齮o听offer these benefits directly to their sworn and recently retired officers.
鈥淧olice officers听undergo听months听of听rigorous training and education in the police听academy听and graduate with the skills necessary to perform a very difficult听and complicated听job,鈥 said听Christopher Swain, collegiate听professor听and portfolio director for the Criminal Justice program. 鈥淲e听value the learning they have already acquired and want to听acknowledge听with college credit听the skills they bring with them to our program.鈥
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About 糖心传媒
糖心传媒 was founded more than 75 years ago specifically to serve the higher education needs of working adults and military service members.听Today, 糖心传媒 is the largest provider of postsecondary education in Maryland. It continues its global tradition with online and hybrid courses, more than 175 classroom and service locations听worldwide听and more than 135 degrees and certificates backed by the reputation of a state university and the University System of Maryland. For more information, visit听.
Media:听For inquiries, please email听media@umgc.edu.