Proper training is crucial for police officers, with some agencies providing training while others require it beforehand. Accreditation, employment rates, and recommendations should be considered when selecting a training center. Training covers firearms, law, psychology, and investigation. Checking accreditation and graduate employment rates, talking to alumni and current students, and consulting with local law enforcement agencies can help in choosing the right training center.
All police officers must be properly trained before officially starting to work as police officers. Some law enforcement agencies hire a candidate and send them to a specific training center at the agency’s expense. Many others, however, expect candidates to have already completed the necessary training before applying for a job. When selecting a law enforcement training center, consider accreditation, graduate employment rates, and first-hand recommendations from local law enforcement agencies before making a decision.
A police officer must be trained in several critical areas before “hitting the streets”. Most law enforcement training programs train students in firearms and basic law, as well as psychology and investigative techniques, among other subjects. Choosing the right law enforcement training facility can be the difference between whether or not you are offered a job.
When looking for a law enforcement training facility, accreditation is very important. There are a variety of state and federal accreditation options in the United States, such as FLETA (Federal Law Enforcement Training Accreditation) as well as many state agencies. When a potential student is researching programs, one of the first questions that should be asked is whether or not the program is accredited and by whom.
Another way to gauge the quality of a police training center is to look at graduate employment rates. A quality program should not hesitate to provide statistics that show how many of its alumni are now employed as police officers. In addition, many programs will provide a potential student with the names of alumni and a point of contact to ask additional questions. Alumni and current students are an excellent resource. Spending a day at the center and talking to current students can also provide beneficial information that will help a potential student make a decision.
Inquiring directly with local law enforcement agencies should not be left out of the decision process, particularly if the student plans to apply to a local law enforcement agency. Even if the agency does not send new hires to a specific law enforcement training center, they may have a preference or a list of centers that will be suggested to a potential candidate. The added benefit of consulting directly with a law enforcement agency is that the applicant can also obtain additional information that can help with the application process.
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