NCJ Number
202055
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 30 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2003 Pages: 108-111
Date Published
August 2003
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the Pasco-Hernando Community College training academy in Florida.
Abstract
This $6 million, 35,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility is full of training amenities, such as a 100-seat auditorium, mock courtrooms, holding cells, and an interrogation room. Students at this new facility receive real-life experiences on the defensive driving course and in the simulation lab where they can train in typical on-duty situations. There is a sally port for transporting and booking prisoners, a live-fire interactive firing range, and a SKID car system for realistic driver training. Students learn interactively by videotaping training episodes and later reviewing them with an instructor. The college can accommodate 1 law enforcement class of 24 students per semester, as well as students enrolled in the 2 year criminal justice associates degree program. In Florida, individual police departments often do not train recruits. The school has a reputation for graduating well-trained students from various backgrounds. One of the most popular areas in the school is the simulation lab, which recreates several scenarios for both law enforcement and corrections officers. The courtroom provides an opportunity to improve skills that all cops need. A tech lab demonstrates the basics of forensics, chemicals such as luminol, and proper ways of collecting and storing evidence. A lab with 24 computers shows students basics, including how to write a report online or use a laptop. In intensive situations, law enforcement trainers and supervisors have discovered that officer’s responses must be second nature. Training is critical because the officer reacts in a stressful situation based on his or her training.