No stranger to large federal grants for law enforcement training, Bryan Courtney has secured another one — this time for nearly a half-million dollars.

Mr. Courtney, director of the Regional Community Policing Institute (RCPI), which is housed at Missouri Western State University, was pleased to see a $450,000 grant from the Department of Justice announcement Tuesday. He said the grant is a result of the office’s previous accomplishments.

The RCPI trains law enforcement agencies across the country on issues from gang violence to mortgage fraud. Mr. Courtney has traveled from Southern California and everywhere in between while compiling panels of experts to offer training in each field. Meanwhile, Missouri Western students get applied learning experience and internship opportunities.

Natalie Colboch, a junior criminal justice major at Western, was leaning toward law enforcement as a career, but she wasn’t certain until she got the real-world experience. Through Mr. Courtney’s office, she wound up with an internship with the Kansas City Police Department.

“It was by far the best thing I’ve done, education-wise,” Ms. Colboch said of the 12 ride-alongs she did with officers over a four-month period. “I know this is what I want to do.”

A $714,000 grant in 2007 allowed Mr. Courtney and a long list of experts around the country to address campus crime prevention, gangs, counter-terrorism and a program called “seven habits for law enforcement.” Those issues will likely continue to be addressed. Mr. Courtney said the new award isn’t geared toward any specific topic, but he’ll most likely have flexibility.

The recent money is part of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, which allows for a minimum of 250 days of training in a wide range of subjects to prevent and control crime.

Jimmy Myers can be reached at jimmym@npgco.com.