NCJ Number
63731
Date Published
1979
Length
17 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE EXAMINES A COST-EFFECTIVE POLICE TRAINING PROGRAM LINKING SEVERAL INDEPENDENT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y. MAJOR CHANGES IN POLICE TRAINING ARE SUGGESTED.
Abstract
THE GOAL OF THE ROCKLAND PROJECT WAS TO PROVIDE MORE EFFECTIVE POLICE SERVICE THROUGH TRAINING. THE TRAINING NEEDS TO BE MET BY THE PROJECT WERE DETERMINED BY RESULTS OF A QUESTIONNAIRE, SURVEY AND INTERVIEWS OF PERSONNEL PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM. THE RESPONDENTS ASKED FOR TRAINING IN LAW, INVESTIGATION, AND FIRST AID. THE MISSION, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM ARE SUMMARIZED AS FOLLOWS: (1) CYCLICAL TRAINING WHICH INVOLVED INSERVICE TRAINING FOR ALL PERSONNEL, (2) SPECIALIZED TRAINING WHICH INVOLVED SELECTED PERSONNEL IN SPECIFIC AREAS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, (3) INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS WHICH PROVIDED PARTICIPATING AGENCIES WITH WRITTEN MATERIALS ABOUT POLICE TRAINING AND HELPED PROMOTE A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT, AND (4) TRAINING SERVICES WHICH FORMED A STAFF OF INSTRUCTORS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PROGRAM. THE TRAINING SYSTEM CONCEPT HAS THREE PHASES: REQUIREMENT, DEVELOPMENT, AND VALIDATION. THE ROCKLAND COUNTY PROGRAM IDENTIFIED AND USED RESOURCES FROM FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS, SHARED RESOURCES WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION AND THE COMMUNITY, AND LINKED TRAINING OBJECTIVES TO ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE. AS A MODEL FOR FUTURE TRAINING, THE PROGRAM LESSENS FRICTION AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND PROVIDES FOR EXECUTIVE DECISIONMAKING LEADING TO PROFESSIONALISM IN POLICE SERVICE. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS, DIAGRAMS AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (RFC)