NCJ Number
197803
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 69 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2002 Pages: 24-26
Date Published
November 2002
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes Ireland's National Police College, which educates and trains the national police force called the Garda Siochana ("Guardians of the Peace").
Abstract
The Garda College complex at Templemore is the National Police College where virtually all police training is conducted. Garda College has 522 bedrooms with 68 suites. In 1992 the National Council for Educational Awards designated Garda College an institute for higher education. Almost all police undergoing the initial 2-year training program opt for the academic diploma track. In addition to the education, training, and preparation of students to serve as garda, the college also offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in police management for advanced garda officers. The college continues to develop other programs, such as senior and middle-management courses, specialist police training, and European language classes. The college consists of the management school, the promotion school, the specialist training school, an in-service school, and the student/probationer school. The student/probationer school is responsible for the training, education, and development of all new gardai. This 2-year initial police training program involves five phases that include fieldwork, a dissertation, licensing exams, and work with detectives. Approximately 60 percent of the 2 years is spent in the operational field, and about 40 percent is spent in the college. Young national police colleges should study and model themselves after Ireland's National Police College. 3 notes