NCJ Number
201728
Journal
Law Enforcement Trainer Volume: 16 Issue: 3 Dated: May/June 2001 Pages: 10-12
Date Published
May 2001
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article discusses how to adequately educate police personnel in the face of budget constraints.
Abstract
Tight budgets and manpower issues are two factors hampering adequate police training. Field officers will readily admit, after pay and equipment issues, lack of training is their highest concern. What often suffers is the officers’ ability to broaden their skills and knowledge through training. To meet these challenges, training personnel need to create programs that will give officers the training they need and want, make the training interesting and informative, and maximize the use of instructors, equipment, and time. With a little bit of forethought, training can be combined to simulate a real world experience. This will make the training more interesting to the officer and create a more effective learning environment. The most obvious combination of training is firearms plus defensive tactics. To be effective, training must be realistic. Officers need to confront an individual that will be controlled within the range of use force continuum. The training should evaluate the officer’s decision on what method to use as well as their proficiency in that method. The use of padded suits, ballistic panels, and simunition weapons will make this type of training easily affordable and highly productive. Defensive driving and high-risk stops are another combination with highly effective results. Traffic stops should be conducted out at the track, with fellow officers watching. High-risk stop and driving instructors should be available to answer questions and remediate those that need it. Even non-proficiency skills training issues can be combined. The idea presented here is to consider thinking outside traditional training methods.