NCJ Number
90255
Journal
Schriftenreihe der Polizei-Fuehrungsakademie Issue: 3 Dated: (1982) Pages: 248-260
Date Published
Unknown
Length
13 pages
Annotation
In view of the increasing youth of the West German police forces (e.g., 45 percent of Baden Wuertemberg's 22,000 police officers are under age 30, 22 percent under 25; most recruits are aged 17-20), adjustments should be made in police training programs.
Abstract
Programing should attempt to compensate for the substantive educational shortcomings and lower experience range of young officers, as well as for the world view of their generation. Political tensions and the public view of the police as repressive agents of the State may pose problems for younger officers' harmonious acceptance of the police role and their responsibilities. It is essential that their training provide thorough grounding in the principles and history of constitutional government and the police function of enforcing order in a democracy. Both professional and social competence must be the training goal. Beyond imparting knowledge and skils, the training should constitute a stage of both psychological and practical preparation for the reality of police work. Furthermore, continued inservice training opportunities must be planned for officers on a systematic basis. In practical terms, initial training should be increased to a total of 3 years with the addition of a 6-month practice period on the beat, immediately preceding the first work assignment.