HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF TRAINING IN NEW YORK STATE (FROM NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON JOB-TASK ANALYSIS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE - PROCEEDINGS, NOVEMBER 12-14, 1978, BY DIANA SOOY - SEE NCJ-61413)

• NCJ Number: 61424
• Author(s): W G MACMAHON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: Texas Cmssn on Law Enforcement; National Assoc of State Directors of Law Enforcement Training; US Dept of Justice
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

ORIGINS OF POLICE TRAINING PROGRAMS IN NEW YORK STATE ARE DISCUSSED; SIGNIFICANT ORGANIZATIONS, LEGISLATION, AND TRAINING PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND REQUIREMENTS ARE HIGHLIGHTED.

Abstract

IN 1945, UNDER THE SPONSORSHIP OF THE NEW YORK STATE SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION AND THE NEW YORK STATE CHIEFS OF POLICE, THE NEW YORK STATE LONG RANGE POLICE TRAINING PROGRAM BECAME OPERATIONAL. DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD, THE LONG RANGE TRAINING PROGRAM UNDERWENT TWO DISTINCT PHASES OF DEVELOPMENT. THE FIRST, FROM 1945 TO 1950, IS DISTINGUISHED BY UNIFORM CURRICULUM FOR APPLICATION THROUGHOUT THE STATE. BOTH DEPARTMENTAL AND REGIONAL TRAINING SESSIONS WERE HELD. THE SECOND PHASE WAS TYPIFIED BY SPECIALIZED TRAINING COURSE DEVELOPMENT. THE PROGRAM'S PIONEERING WORK BECAME THE FOUNDATION UPON WHICH THE WORK OF THE NEW MUNICIPAL POLICE TRAINING COUNCIL, INSTITUTED IN 1959, WOULD BE BUILT. INITIAL ATTEMPTS TO LEGISLATE MANDATED POLICE TRAINING IN NEW YORK FAILED. HOWEVER, IN 1959 GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER PRESENTED AN ADDRESS TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE RECOMMENDING THE STRENGTHENING OF LOCAL POLICE FORCES BY MANDATING MINIMUM TRAINING STANDARDS. THE RESULTING LAW, WHICH CREATED THE NEW YORK STATE MUNICIPAL POLICE TRAINING COUNCIL, BECAME EFFECTIVE IN SEPTEMBER 1959. THE FIRST MANDATED BASIC COURSE WAS SET AT A MINIMUM OF 80 CLASSROOM HOURS. CONTENT WAS DETERMINED BY DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH ASSISTANCE FROM FIELD OFFICERS. THE FIRST INCREASE IN MINIMUM HOURS, TO 120, CAME IN 1963. ALTHOUGH THE COUNCIL NEVER SET AN ULTIMATE GOAL IN TRAINING HOURS, IT HAS INCREASED THE LENGTH OF THE COURSE PERIODICALLY. BASIC PROGRAMS NOW BEING CONDUCTED FAR EXCEED THE MINIMUM MANDATE. THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS AND GOALS RECOMMENDED A MINIMUM OF 400 CLASSROOM HOURS. IN 1972, THE TRAINING AIDS COMMITTEE BECAME INACTIVE AND WAS EVENTUALLY DISCONTINUED. THE STATE NEEDS A DISINTERESTED THIRD PARTY TO CONDUCT AN OBJECTIVE EVALUATION OF POLICE TRAINING IN NEW YORK AND RECOMMEND CHANGES WHERE NECESSARY. PERCEPTION OF THE JOB AS SEEN BY THE OFFICER, THE ADMINISTRATOR, AND THE PUBLIC WOULD BE THE FOCUS OF SUCH RESEARCH. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED IN THE PAPER. (LWM)