Main Content Section
MDCC Receives $2.25M to Fund LETA Housing and Additional Programs
MOORHEAD, Miss. (Jan. 6, 2023) – The Henry L. Manuel Law Enforcement Training Academy (LETA) Complex at Mississippi Delta Community College (MDCC) will be adding housing thanks to a $2.25 million federal grant.
The funding comes from the House spending bill announced by Representative Bennie G. Thompson in late December and is included in the final 2023 appropriations funding package.
“I am proud to have secured $18,789,100 in Community Project Funding in this bill, which meets long overdue community needs in Mississippi’s 2nd District,” said Thompson.
MDCC President Dr. Tyrone Jackson said he was sincerely appreciative of the support of Thompson and the federal government for the grant and the opportunities it provides.
“MDCC has been committed to training law enforcement officers from across our state since 1998. This funding opportunity will have a tremendous impact on our LETA training program by providing additional space to house more cadets and offer more advanced training courses annually,” said Jackson.
MDCC’s Vice President of Administrative and Student Services Dr. Steven Jones, who drafted and submitted the required documentation for the funding request, is similarly grateful and elated.
“I sincerely thank Congressman Thompson, the Biden-Harris Administration, and others who played an integral role in securing these funds for Mississippi Delta Community College. We are very grateful for the financial support and the opportunity to expand and strengthen our law enforcement training academy program,” said Jones.
Jones further expanded on the timeline of LETA at MDCC saying that the program was originally very regional but in 2003, began to recruit from across the entire state of Mississippi.
“We now have officers coming from as far as Corinth, Southaven, and also the deep south from Magnolia Police Department to Winston County Sheriff's Office. We have seen continued growth over the years, and since 1998, we have provided training for over 1,000-plus law enforcement officers including basic law enforcement officers, refresher officers, detention officers, update of skill officers, and investigators,” explained Jones.
Director of LETA Dr. Amy Vanderford also played a large role in not only the academy’s continued success but also in the new housing project.
“I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge my colleague, Dr. Amy Vanderford, LETA director, who played a significant role in assisting me in drafting and submitting the required documentation to support this funding request,” said Jones. “Dr. Vanderford is very dedicated to Mississippi Delta Community College and our LETA program, and she is an excellent leader. We are all very excited to see the vision become a reality. It's a great day to be a Trojan.”
Vanderford is simply thankful for all that made the upcoming project possible and the opportunities that it will bring to Mississippi’s law enforcement.
“God is good. We have been patient and prayerful. This is a huge investment for MDCC and the police and sheriff’s departments representing the state of Mississippi. We give thanks to Representative Bennie Thompson, MDCC President Dr. Tyrone Jackson and Vice President Dr. Steven Jones,” concluded Vanderford.