MCC-Blue River Public Safety Institute

09/01/2026

Ten years ago, the fire service lost an incredible leader and friend, Chief Jon Messick, to occupational cancer. To honor his legacy, the Southern Platte Fire Protection District Wellness Committee is hosting a memorial volleyball tournament, with all proceeds going to the MCC Foundation to fund scholarships for our MCC-Blue River Fire Academy students. We would love to see our former students, friends, and colleagues put together teams and join us for a great day supporting our future firefighters.

09/01/2026

Week 2 is officially underway for our fire academy recruits! 🚒🔥

This week, the recruits are laying critical groundwork in the classroom, diving deep into fire prevention, fire behavior, and building construction. Understanding how fire develops and how different structures react under extreme heat is what keeps firefighters safe and effective on the fireground.

Out on the drill floor, they are getting hands-on with the most important part of their skill set: PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus).

Mastering this gear until it becomes pure muscle memory is the foundation of everything they will do throughout their careers.

08/21/2026

The Fall 2026 Fire Academy is officially underway at MCC-Blue River! 🚒🔥
Recruits in both our day and evening/Saturday academies are stepping up to the challenge, putting in the work in the classroom, on the drill ground, and in physical training. Over the coming weeks, these future first responders will train through live-fire exercises, vehicle extrication, HazMat operations, and hands-on drills led by veteran instructors from across the Kansas City region.

Whether training full-time during the day or balancing work and family in the night academy, every single recruit has answered the call to serve our communities.

Join us in wishing the Fall 2026 recruits strength, focus, and safety as they earn their gear and begin their journey into the fire service.

Drop a comment below to send them your support! 👇

08/11/2026

Ever wonder who's on the other end of the line when things go wrong? That's you.

The City of Riverside is hiring a Communications Officer to dispatch for both police and fire. No two shifts look the same, and you're the one making sure help gets there fast.

💰 Starting pay: $54,000, based on experience
🕒 12-hour shifts, 2-2-3 schedule, every other weekend off
🩺 100% City-paid health insurance and retirement
💵 $2,500 annual HSA contribution
🎓 Tuition reimbursement + degree incentive pay

Apply today: riversidemo.gov/jobs

08/10/2026

Chief Messick was honored by the Blue River Fire Academy Class FA-33 with a custom-made plaque that hangs in the front of Fire Academy’s primary classroom on campus. We will never forget.

08/07/2026

07/29/2026

Congratulations to these Blue River Graduates!!!

07/29/2026

Save the date! This event is open to all PSI alumni, students, staff, faculty and their families.

Join us as we celebrate the 30th and 25th anniversaries of the Public Safety Institute. This reunion also supports scholarship funding for future recruits, firefighters, EMS personnel and paramedics who will carry the profession forward.

The reunion is free to attend. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served.
RSVP - mcckc.edu/campuses/blue-river/public-safety-institute.aspx