NCJ Number
88131
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 31 Issue: 3 Dated: (March 1983) Pages: 18-32,35-38,40-45,54-58
Date Published
1983
Length
30 pages
Annotation
A series of articles on police training covers police educational background, the California State Highway Patrol training program, training to deal with an ambush, a police explorer post, the use of videotapes for training in small departments, firearms training, and training to avoid civil liability.
Abstract
The upgrading of police educational requirements is inevitable for a profession with the responsibilities and performance requirements of modern policing. This should involve the provision of motivation for educational upgrading from police administrators, financial assistance for education, pay increments for degree completion, and the use of horizontal pay scales. The training program of the California Highway Patrol is grueling, consisting of 20 weeks and 64 courses covering, (1) first aid and weapons orientation, (2) vehicle code and physical methods of arrest, (3) physical education and defensive driving, and (4) juveniles, evidence, narcotics, and reports. In training officers to deal with possible ambush situations, simulations can be used to train officers to be cautious and to react quickly and intelligently to threatening situations. Actions of trainees should be critiqued. In attempting to reduce the number of civil actions filed against police agencies, training alone will not be sufficient. Competent, job-related, and quality training for both basic cadet and on-duty officers can help minimize occasions of civil liability. A law enforcement Explorer Post is an extension of the Boy Scouts, and it prepares young people for a law enforcement career by acquainting them with the knowledge, skills, and responsibilities of officers through class work and observation. Training in small departments can be inexpensively and effectively accomplished through the use of videotapes for inservice training, and firearms training can be accomplished with a relatively small investment in props and facilities that permit combat-type training.