NCJ Number
96840
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 53 Issue: 12 Dated: (December 1984) Pages: 9-12
Date Published
1984
Length
4 pages
Annotation
To ensure preparedness and effectiveness, small police departments need to be involved in continuous professional development of their personnel beyond minimum standards training.
Abstract
A training program must be included in planning decisions as well as budget proposals. One relatively novel approach is policing by objective, which involves every aspect of the police organization. Inservice training makes up a significant component of a comprehensive staff development program. Most of the various traditional approaches to inservice training and education can be used by the small police department. It is important to include all personnel in some training activities. Regularly scheduled training sessions using films, tapes, guest speakers, and/or training officers are accepted methods and are particularly adaptable to the small department. The Federal Bureau of Investigation provides instructors to conduct training sessions for local police departments at no cost, and professional police associations sponsor a wide range of training workshops, seminars, conferences, and programs. Other techniques include coach-pupil training, use of video recording systems, and the application of computer technology. Police training at the university level significantly reduces the load on inservice training but does not replace it. Executive education can make a special contribution to the management capacity of police executives and their sponsoring agencies. Additional approaches to providing job satisfaction and the motivation employees need are special assignments and/or extra responsibility and personal counseling. Commitment to quality training and staff development yields a motivated and productive department.