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Basic Issues in Training: A Foundation for Community Policing

NCJ Number
141291
Date Published
1993
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This paper focuses primarily on the changes in internal training procedures and content that can assist police managers in the provision of a smooth and effective transition to community policing, in ways that allow everyone in the department to make full use of this approach.
Abstract
The bulk of the paper addresses the training of line officers, who constitute the foundation that, over time, can change the culture within the department in ways that can allow community policing to flourish. It also emphasizes the need to provide effective training in community policing to sworn and nonsworn personnel at all levels in the department. Training in community policing detailed in this paper refers primarily to three areas: academy training, field officer training, and ongoing inservice training. Changes in training must also be part of other internal changes in recruitment, selection, evaluation, and promotion; however, these issues will not be addressed directly, but only as they impinge directly on training. The paper shows how the philosophy and mission of community policing can drive all aspects of training, so that training becomes the key to promoting and institutionalizing the shift to community policing. This requires an analysis of all aspects of training to ensure that they promote the mission of community policing, which is to provide decentralized and personalized police service that empowers the community to participate as partners in the process of making their neighborhoods better and safer places in which to live and work. 2 references