SINCE ITS BEGINNING IN 1959, THE MONTANA LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY HAS BEEN THE MAJOR SOURCE OF PROFESSIONAL TRAINING FOR THE PEACE OFFICERS OF THE STATE. THE GOAL OF THE ACADEMY IS TO PROVIDE MONTANA'S PEACE OFFICERS WITH PROFESSIONAL TRAINING ON SUBJECTS VITAL TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNCTION. IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THIS, THE ACADEMY PROVIDES AN ANNUAL PROGRAM OF SCHOOLS DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. IN 1978, THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS CONDUCTED DECLINED BY ABOUT 20 PERCENT FROM FISCAL YEAR 1977, PRIMARILY DUE TO THE LACK OF TEACHING PERSONNEL NECESSARY TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR PROFESSIONAL TRAINING. ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS DECLINED, TOTAL ATTENDANCE WAS DOWN BY ONLY 3.5 PERCENT. SEVERAL NEW SCHOOLS WERE OFFERED IN FISCAL 1978, INCLUDING BOMB SCHOOL, ADVANCED WEAPONS, DEFENSIVE TACTICS INSTRUCTOR, AND JUVENILE PROCEDURES. UNDER A GRANT, THE ACADEMY PROVIDED TRAINING AIDS AND EQUIPMENT TO AGENCIES CONDUCTING RESERVE TRAINING. THE ACADEMY ALSO PRESENTED A RESERVE FORCE COORDINATORS COURSE TO PREPARE AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES FOR THEIR DUTIES UNDER THE 'RESERVE ACT.' COMPARATIVE STATISTICS ARE SHOWN ON THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS CONDUCTED, OFFICERS ATTENDING, OFFICERS GRADUATING, AND WEEKS OF INSTRUCTION FOR FISCAL YEARS 1976, 1977, AND 1978. STATISTICS ARE ALSO PROVIDED FOR THE FOLLOWING: (1) SUBJECTS OF SCHOOLS AND NUMBER OF STUDENTS GRADUATING FROM EACH FOR JULY 1977-JUNE 1978, (2) NUMBER OF GRADUATES BY POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR JULY 1977-JUNE 1978, (3) NUMBER OF GRADUATES BY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR JULY 1977-JUNE 1978, (4) GRADUATES FROM OTHER AGENCIES FOR JULY 1977-JUNE 1978, (5) NUMBER OF GRADUATES FROM EACH SCHOOL PRIOR TO JULY 1977, (6) TOTAL GRADUATES BY TYPES OF SCHOOLS HELD 1959-JUNE 1978, (7) TOTAL NUMBER OF GRADUATES BY YEARS, AND (8) GRADUATES FROM EACH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FROM 1959 THROUGH JUNE 1978. (RCB)