NCJ Number
215551
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 75 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2006 Pages: 11-17
Date Published
September 2006
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the following challenges faced by administrators of law enforcement field training: maintaining the integrity of the field training program, selecting appropriate personnel as trainers, and overseeing the trainers.
Abstract
Developing and maintaining the integrity of a field training program requires having a well-designed field training manual, written objectives, standardized evaluation guidelines, motivated field training officers, and leaders willing to keep the program up-to-date. Ensuring the ongoing integrity of a program requires that administrators periodically review their manuals to reflect changes in law, procedures, training research, and evaluation findings. The selection of appropriate trainers is another challenge for administrators and is also related to the integrity of the program. Officers selected to be field trainers must be self-motivated, professional officers who have a positive attitude toward the agency. This article suggests using the PEARL model in selecting field trainers. This acronym stands for professionalism, ethics, adaptability, recruitment, and leadership. After selecting high-quality field trainers, administrators must also oversee their work in the field. This involves providing basic and ongoing training; encouraging new ideas from field training officers; meeting regularly with them to discuss ideas, problems, and other work-related issues; providing freedom and flexibility for trainers to be creative and innovative in their work; and holding field training officers accountable for compliance with manual guidelines.