NCJ Number
114415
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 55 Issue: 11 Dated: (November 1988) Pages: 36-37,40
Date Published
1988
Length
3 pages
Annotation
One way police managers can promote a challenging, rewarding, stimulating, and satisfying workplace and offer officers an opportunity to feel they are making important contributions to the organization is through cross-training.
Abstract
Cross-training is an approach used by many athletes and their coaches, who find that practicing activities and exercises outside their primary sport increases strength, flexibility, and overall performance. In the police department, cross-training of patrol officers can likewise improve their performance, increase their motivation, and self-esteem, and maximize their value to the department. Instruction should be offered in such areas as crime scene processing, arson investigation, fingerprinting, hostage negotiation, accident investigation, photography, and a variety of other investigative, administrative, and procedural areas of police work. In developing a cross-training program, managers should conduct a training needs assessment based on the types and amounts of activities and services the department offers and lacks. Specialty training should be voluntary, and performance records of officers seeking such training should be reviewed to assess their suitability. Training sources should be identified and rewards (pay, recognition) should be devised. Administrative procedures for operational use of trained officers should be developed, and an evaluation method should be devised. 1 figure.