A reception to welcome 13 Ukrainian police officers to MSU was held on Wednesday by the School of Criminal Justice as part of a partnership exchange.
The reception, held at McDonel Hall at 7 p.m., included police officers from local departments.
This summer, 12 students traveled to the Ukraine for the "In Search of a New Democracy" program. Ukrainian officers took students to the Ministry of Foreign affairs, a Ukrainian law school and some took students into their homes.
To return the officers' hospitality, the students invited the Ukrainian law enforcement delegation to campus, said Dennis Shaw, director of the Ukraine program and juvenile justice specialist with the School of Criminal Justice.
The officers will be living with MSU criminal justice students until Jan. 31.
"I did the study abroad program in the Ukraine, and this officer and his family hosted me. I wanted to do the same for him," said criminal justice senior, Suzanne Spiegoski. "Ukrainian people are the most hospitable and kindest people you will ever meet."
In the next couple weeks, the delegates will be visiting local precincts, such as the MSU Department of Police and Public Safety and the FBI's Lansing office.
"We are hoping to convey the professionalism of policing here and how university policing works," said Deputy Chief Dave Trexler of the MSU police. "We can share some ideas and technology."
Some officers said they are eager to officially begin their visit.
"Our experience so far has been exceptional, and we hope it will be beneficial to learn, see and observe," said Maj. Gen. Oleh Salo, head of the Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
In Ukraine, the national police agency runs on a military format, said Shaw, and the United States is unique because police are a local institution. The goal of the School of Criminal Justice is to show the delegates how law enforcement is organized in the United States, he said.
"Our military is like their police," said Jennifer Shanley, criminal justice senior. "It's very different over there."
