NCJ Number
57261
Date Published
1979
Length
181 pages
Annotation
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MODEL TRAINING CURRICULUM FOR BASIC POLICE OFFICERS (BPO) IN MASSACHUSETTS IS DESCRIBED, BASED UPON INTERVIEWS WITH DESIGNATED PERSONS OF APPROPRIATE EXPERTISE AND OFFICIAL POSITION.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY WERE (1) TO IDENTIFY THE ROLES, TASKS, AND SKILLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE JOB OF BPO IN MASSACHUSETTS; (2) TO SHOW HOW SOME POLICE AND NONPOLICE PEOPLE PERCEIVE THESE ROLES AND WHAT THEY EXPECT OF BPOS; AND (3) TO DEVELOP A MODEL CURRICULUM, BASED ON THE AFOREMENTIONED TASKS, WHICH IS PROPOSED FOR THE POLICE TRAINING ACADEMIES. PREVIOUS RESEARCH WORK IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MUNICIPAL PERSONNEL ACTIVITY ANALYSES AND A RECONNAISSANCE TASK LED TO THE DEFINITION OF SEVEN ROLES PERFORMED BY BPOS; (1) PATROLLING, (2) PROVIDING SERVICES AND RENDERING ASSISTANCE, (3) APPLYING AND ENFORCING THE LAW, (4) INVESTIGATING, (5) ASSISTING IN PROSECUTION, (6) DOCUMENTING AND RECORDING, AND (7) PERFORMING MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITIES AND HANDLING MISCELLANEOUS SITUATIONS. THE CURRICULUM WITH A TOTAL OF 480 HOURS, IS BROKEN INTO ROLE MODULES, EACH OF WHICH IS FURTHER DIVIDED INTO COURSES, SEGMENTS OF THESE COURSES, AND TOPICS TO BE COVERED IN EACH COURSE. COURSES WERE DEVELOPED FROM TOPICALLY RELATED OR SEQUENTIALLY DEPENDENT CLUSTERS OF HIGH PRIORITY KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ACTIVITIES. THE CURRICULUM INDICATES TEACHING TIME REQUIRED FOR EACH PORTION OF THE CURRICULUM. RECOMMENDED INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES ARE ALSO PROVIDED FOR EACH SEGMENT. IT IS INTENDED THAT THE MODEL CURRICULUM DEVELOPED WILL BE USED FOR EVALUATING AND CERTIFYING POLICE TRAINING ACADEMIES AS WELL AS TRAINEE PERFORMANCE AFTER COMPLETION OF THE CURRICULUM. THE APPENDIXES PROVIDE EXAMPLES OF TABLES ANALYZING SURVEY DATA, COPIES OF SECTIONS OF SURVEY INSTRUMENTS, AND RESOURCE MATERIALS ON THE SEVEN BPO ROLES. (RCB)