Exam 2.1 Flashcards
What is the definition of police training?
Equipping officers with the basic skills necessary to perform essential duties
What is the definition of police education?
Equipping officers with a familiarity of theoretical concepts and principles that underlie their training
Why is higher education beneficial for police officers?
- Develops broader range of information for decision-making
- Provides additional years and experiences for increasing maturity
- Engrains responsibility in individuals through course requirements and achievements
- Allows individuals to learn more about the history of the U.S. and about the democratic process
- Contributes to a more flexible value system
- Improves attitudes toward minority groups
- Increases awareness of culture and ethics
What education do most police agencies require?
- High school education/Equivalent
- <1% require higher degree
What are the purposes of training that leaders should carry out?
- Develop core competencies in officers
- Train officers in interviewing witnesses/drug identification
- Provide knowledge about policy & procedure, case law, and what skills/attitudes should be performed
- Boost officer performance
- Avoid legal liabilities
- Diminishes distaste toward law enforcement in community
- Become better public communicators
What is Recruit Training? What does it teach?
- aka Basic Training
- Initial training undergone by accepted applicants
- Criminal law, traffic code enforcement, arrest techniques, firearm training, self-defense tactics, vehicle search procedures, etc.
What is the end result of Recruit Training?
Certification as a sworn police/peace officer
What are the core competencies developed in Recruit Training?
- Patrol techniques
- Criminal investigation
- Force and weaponry
- Legal issues
- Administration
- Communication
What is Field Training?
- Immediately follows recruit training
- New officers are paired with trained veterans and are evaluated on street performance (typically patrol division)
- Normally last 6 weeks - 6 months
What is the Probationary Period?
- Starts on first day of recruit training
- Performance of new officers is evaluated
- Lasts 6 months - 2 years
- Officers are “employees at will” and do not receive employment protections granted to officers who have completed their probationary periods
What are Field Training Officers (FTOs)?
Officers who have been selected and trained to direct, evaluate, and correct the performance of recruits immediately after their basic training
When does Field Training take place?
During the first 6 months of probationary period
What happens to probationary officers who cannot perform?
Termination
What is the purpose of Field Training?
For new officers to apply lessons learned in classrooms in real-life situations
What are challenges for agencies’ training programs?
- Funding
- Mandatory vs. voluntary training
- Lack of supervisors from training sessions
- Effectiveness of training
