Atlanta college creates policing institute

Larry Stewart will head up Atlanta Metropolitan State College's Criminal Justice & Police Sciences Institute. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED.

Larry Stewart will head up Atlanta Metropolitan State College's Criminal Justice & Police Sciences Institute. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED.

Atlanta Metropolitan State College announced Thursday it’s starting an institute to help police officers deal with challenges in law enforcement and the communities they serve.

The college will offer certificates through its Criminal Justice and Police Sciences Institute. Classes begin in January.

“The combination of traditional academic programs and scientific/technological police sciences training programs allow law enforcement officers and first responders to develop a deeper understanding of the connections between enforcement challenges and the communities they serve,” the college said in an announcement.

The institute will be led by Larry Stewart, whose law enforcement career began as a police officer in Atlanta and Macon and included stints as an U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and state director for the U.S. Selective Service system.