The course was offered by the West Michigan Criminal Justice Training Consortium.

The 10-week course was conducted over a 10-month period from February to November. There were 35 members in the class, and some came from area departments - Fruitport Township, City of Muskegon, City of Norton Shores and Muskegon County Sheriff’s Department. It was held at the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department.

The course focused on staffing and budgeting, according to Whitehall Police Chief Roger Squiers.

Squiers said the Northwestern University courses are well recognized and highly esteemed, and are offered throughout the United States.

The police chief said Whitehall saved money on training by going through the consortium.