TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College’s Police Academy has a new training vehicle courtesy of the Traverse City Police Department.
The department donated the 2017 Ford Explorer Interceptor last month. Based on the Ford Explorer, it is a heavy-duty SUV designed specifically for law enforcement.
TC Police Sgt. and NMC adjunct Jeremy Metdepenningen (download high-resolution photo)
Equipped with emergency lights, a push bumper, a backseat cage, and a rear locker, other Interceptor features include engineering for high speed police pursuit and a perimeter alert system. Police Academy director Gail Kurowski said she used it in an emergency vehicle operations in-service training last year, and is delighted to add it to the Academy’s fleet.
“This vehicle is already outfitted with standard police equipment, making it ideal for us to use in training. It’s a win-win, saving Police Academy resources and helping us better prepare officers to keep our communities safe,” Kurowski said.
NMC offers two full-time, 16-week police academies per year. It is also the only Michigan academy to offer drone certification to its recruits, and far exceeds the minimum requirement for scenario training, which simulates real-world situations, set by MCOLES, the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards. Students who already have a degree can become an officer in just one semester, after passing a licensing exam. Find out more at nmc.edu/police.
Release date: JULY 28, 2026
For more information:
Cari Noga
NMC Communications Director
cnoga@nmc.edu
(231) 392-1800 (Call or text)