THEY ARE (HANDICAPPED) POLICE TECHNICIANS

• NCJ Number: 54251
• Journal: WORKLIFE Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1976) Pages: 7-11
• Author(s): J WAGNER
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: The Urban Institute
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

TOLEDO, OHIO, INSTITUTED A POLICE TECHNICIAN PROGRAM IN 1976 UTILIZING DISABLED VIETNAM-ERA VETERANS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 20 AND 50 AS PARTICIPANTS.

Abstract

THE PROGRAM WAS OPENED TO ALL QUALIFIED VETERANS REGARDLESS OF THE EXTENT OF THEIR DISABILITY. APPLICANTS WERE REQUIRED TO TAKE CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS AND FOLLOW THE SAME INTERVIEW PROCEDURES AS OTHERS SEEKING EMPLOYMENT WITH THE POLICE DIVISION. COMPREHENSIVE EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ACT (CETA) PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYMENT FUNDS WERE USED TO HIRE AND TRAIN THE DISABLED VETERANS AS POLICE TECHNICIANS. UNDER A $2500 CONTRACT FINANCED BY THE TITLE II ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS, TOLEDO'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAINING AND EDUCATION CENTER CONDUCTED A COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING PROGRAM. TITLE II ALSO PAID THE TECHNICIANS' SALARIES, WHICH AVERAGED ABOUT $4.40 AN HOUR, AND FRINGE BENEFITS. THE PROGRAM WAS JUDGED A SUCCESS. TECHNICIANS PLACED IN JOBS PREVIOUSLY HANDLED BY UNIFORMED OFFICERS HAVE DECREASED POLICE DESK TIME AND FREED OFFICERS FOR STREET DUTY AND SPECIALIZED POLICE WORK. THE VETERANS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MEET REQUIREMENTS OF ALL JOB ASSIGNMENTS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OPERATING EMERGENCY SWITCHBOARDS. THEIR RATE OF ABSENTEEISM IS AVERAGE. DISABLED VETERANS NOW WORK IN RECORDS, IDENTIFICATION, JUVENILE, TRAFFIC, ADULT INVESTIGATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS SECTIONS. THE TECHNICIAN TRAINING PROGRAM USED IS SIMILAR TO THE PROGRAM FOR POLICE CADETS. IT INCLUDES 4 WEEKS OF CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, 3 WEEKS OF ON THE JOB TRAINING AND IN-SERVICE EDUCATION AS NEEDED. THE CURRICULUM CONSISTED OF EIGHT MODULES BEGINNING WITH AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND LEADING TO SPECIFIC SKILLS REQUIRED OF A POLICE TECHNICIAN. ON THE JOB TRAINING INCLUDED WORKING IN MANY DIFFERENT CAPACITIES UNDER DIRECT SUPERVISION. THE TRAINEES WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS JOB PREFERENCES BEFORE BEING ASSIGNED TO POSTTRAINING POSITIONS. THE ARTICLE IS ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS. (MJW)