NCJ Number
59604
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 41 Issue: 8 Dated: (AUGUST 1974) Pages: 35-37
Date Published
1974
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR RURAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THROUGH A COOPERATIVE EFFORT BY THREE REGIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING AGENCIES IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
PARTICIPATION IN TRAINING COURSES BY SOUTHERN ILLINOIS POLICE PERSONNEL HAD BEEN LIMITED BY A NUMBER OF FACTORS: BUDGETARY RESTRICTIONS, MANPOWER SHORTAGES, LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE POLICE ROLE ON THE PART OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS' RELUCTANCE TO TAKE THE TIME TO ATTEND COURSES, AND THE TENDENCY OF RURAL POLICE OFFICIALS TO IGNORE TRAINING PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENTS. THREE PLANNING AGENCIES, REPRESENTING 27 COUNTIES SERVED BY 450 SWORN POLICE OFFICERS, JOINED TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS AND TO DELIVER LOCAL TRAINING THAT WOULD MEET THE NEEDS OF RURAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. THE AGENCIES HIRED A FULL-TIME REGIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAINING COORDINATOR, WHO VISITED ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THE AREA, DISCUSSED TRAINING NEEDS AND RELATED CONSTRAINTS WITH POLICE PERSONNEL, AND DESIGNED A 160-HOUR, STAGGERED-WEEK, INSERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM. SUPPORTED BY A GRANT FROM THE STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION, THE PROGRAM PROVIDED TRAINING AT THREE DIFFERENT SITES, WITH EACH WEEKLY SESSION REPEATED AT EACH SITE. PARTICIPANTS COMMUTED TO THE TRAINING SESSIONS AND WORKED ON TAKE-HOME ASSIGNMENTS DURING THE LONG BREAKS BETWEEN SESSIONS. OVER 100 OFFICERS ENROLLED IN THE FIRST TRAINING SESSIONS, AND PARTICIPANTS' EVALUATIONS OF THE SESSIONS WERE VERY POSITIVE. THERE ARE PLANS TO CONTINUE THE TRAINING SESSIONS AND TO DEVELOP SIMILAR PROGRAMS FOR OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL.