NCJ Number
43183
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 44 Issue: 8 Dated: (AUGUST 1977) Pages: 49-51
Date Published
1977
Length
3 pages
Annotation
LOS ANGELES BEGAN A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING IN 1968; THE RESULTING MILE TRAINING PROGRAM HAS IMPROVED POLICE CADET PERFORMANCE AND STANDARDIZED MATERIAL TAUGHT.
Abstract
MORE THAN 200 OFFICERS AND SUPERVISORS WERE INITIALLY INTERVIEWED AND OBSERVED TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT A POLICE OFFICER DOES, HOW CRITICAL A GIVEN TASK IS TO THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES, AND HOW OFTEN A PARTICULAR SKILL IS USED. IN ADDITION, 270 OFFICERS IN 10 GEOGRAPHIC AREAS WERE CONTACTED TO FIND OUT WHAT SKILLS THEY FELT THEY HAD NOT BEEN TAUGHT AND WHAT SKILLS THEY FELT THEIR PARTNER HAD NOT BEEN TAUGHT. FROM THIS INFORMATION A SERIES OF VIDEOTAPE CASSETTES, AUDIOTAPES, WORKBOOKS, TEXTS, STUDY GUIDES, AND OTHER MATERIALS WERE PRODUCED, CALLED THE MULTIMEDIA INSTRUCTION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT (MILE) TRAINING SYSTEM. IT WAS IMPLEMENTED IN SEPTEMBER 1973. IN THIS SYSTEM, SELF-PACING OF A RECRUIT IS POSSIBLE WITH A SQUAD INSTRUCTOR RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSESSING HIS UNDERSTANDING OF THE MATERIAL. TRADITIONAL COURSE METHODS ARE USED TO TEACH SELF-DEFENSE, USE OF FIREARMS, AND OTHER SUBJECTS LENDING THEMSELVES TO GROUP TECHNIQUES. TO ASSESS THE MILE TECHNIQUE, 11 CLASSES TAUGHT UNDER THIS SYSTEM WERE COMPARED WITH 11 PRE-MILE CLASSES. TEST SCORE GAIN UNDER THE OLD SYSTEM WAS 16.59 PERCENT; UNDER MILE 34.22 PERCENT. ONE OF THE GREATEST BENEFITS OF MILE IS THE ACCURATE AND CONSISTENT PRESENTATION OF ALL MATERIAL. THE VALIDATION PROCESS, WHICH IS ONGOING, ALLOWS DEPARTMENTAL MANAGERS TO ASSESS NEW OR CHANGED NEEDS AND TO DELETE OLD OR INAPPROPRIATE TRAINING. THE MILE PROCESS ALSO ASSURES AN ACCURATE AND STANDARD INTERPRETATION OF POLICY WHICH, IF INCULCATED EARLY IN THE POLICE OFFICER'S CAREER, HAS A LASTING INFLUENCE ON HIS PERFORMANCE.