Police Training
Police training is a vital asset for working police officers who are seeking promotion or who want to specialize in a particular aspect of law enforcement. Since experience and education tend to be the main requirements for advancement in the field of law enforcement most police training programs are designed to fit around a working officer's schedule.
Training programs are available through correspondence and online training. Multimedia CD-ROM courses which include videos, text, testing and tracking of the student's understanding and progress are also available. As well, police detachments often run their own training programs to keep their officers aware of current techniques, equipment, community problems or changes in police protocol.
If you're thinking of becoming a police officer and have no previous experience you'll need to pass an initial screening process and attend a certified police academy. Though the requirements differs from country to country, and sometimes even from city to city, the screening process generally involves a series of personal interviews, a physical exam, aptitude testing, psychological testing, and a criminal background check. Visiting a police department and meeting with a recruitment officer in the town, state or province where you intend to work is the best way to determine what you'll need to get started.
For officers who have several years of experience under their belt, there's room for advancement in a number of directions. Officers may want to enroll in training to specialize in crime lab or detective work. They may also need further training to move through the ranks from officer to sergeant, lieutenant or even chief. Those willing to take on a lengthy period of study may wish to pursue a Bachelor or Masters degree in criminology, which can lead to careers in the FBI, Secret Service or Military Intelligence.
Police training through independent learning, such as online learning, tends to teach officers the basics, which will allow them to pass standard policing tests on various topics. These tests usually consist of multiple choice and short answer questions. They may also require an officer to demonstrate the new training while on the job. Certification in the new area of study is awarded if the officer's score on the exam is over a certain percentage. Seminars or on-campus training will also prepare officers for standard exams, but may have the added bonus of incorporating field work in the learning process.
Specialized topics may include arson investigation, child abuse prevention and investigation, juvenile law, cults and gang behaviour, terrorism, crisis negotiations, and computer crime. Training in other areas such as report writing, interviewing techniques, effective courtroom testimony, and community policing may be useful to officers in their daily duties.
There are literally dozens of different areas of law enforcement where officers can pursue further education. The challenge isn't finding the topic you're looking for, but rather finding the program that best suits your needs. Before paying for tuition or training materials, make sure the program you plan to use meets your department's standards. Many police departments encourage the continuing education of their officers by paying the full or partial cost of training. However, they may only be willing to pay for certain certified programs, while other courses that teach the same subject matter may not be covered.