NCJ Number
143754
Date Published
1991
Length
296 pages
Annotation
The training of police recruits in the Delaware State Police Academy was studied to determine whether its content is consistent with job tasks required of Delaware State troopers on uniformed patrol.
Abstract
The analysis focused on whether differences existed in the proportion of time spent by patrol troopers in performing each of the 24 task areas and the proportion of training time allocated to each of these task areas. It also examined differences in the perceptions of patrol officers, first-line supervisors, and command personnel,s perception of the importance of training in each of the 24 task areas. Data were collected by means of a survey of 40 Delaware State Police patrol officers and supervisors and were analyzed using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance. Results revealed no consistency in the amount of time a trooper spends performing a specific tasks and how the trooper rates the importance of training in that area. In addition, the training program was generally regarded positively by officers in all ranks. Furthermore, supervisory personnel tended to rate the importance of training as higher in many more task areas than did officers assigned to patrol duties. Tables, literature review, appended instrument and background information, and 51 references