THE PROGRAM IS ONE OF 27 BASIC COURSES CERTIFIED BY THE CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING. SINCE 1971, THE SLETC HAS TRAINED OVER 600 RECRUIT OFFICERS FROM 40 LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. IT IS THE ONLY BASIC COURSE IN THE STATE CONSISTING OF THREE DISTINCT PHASES--ACADEMIC TRAINING, ACADEMY FIELD ORIENTATION, AND INDIVIDUALIZED RECRUIT TRAINING. TO MAINTAIN RELEVANCY, THE CURRICULUM HAS BEEN CONSTANTLY EVALUATED TO INSURE THAT THE PROGRAM MEETS THE OBJECTIVES OF POLICE DEPARTMENTS. A PERMANENT STAFF SUPERVISES AND COORDINATES THE PROGRAM, COUNSELS RECRUITS, CONDUCTS SOME TRAINING, AND DOCUMENTS RECRUIT PERFORMANCE. INSTRUCTORS AND STAFF ARE SELECTED FROM OFFICERS KNOWN TO BE EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD. RECRUITS ARE REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR TRAINING THROUGH PRACTICAL AND ROLE-PLAYING EXERCISES. ELECTRONIC MEDIA SUCH AS VIDEO AND AUDIO-VISUAL AIDS ENHANCE THE INSTRUCTION. DURING THE FIRST 8 WEEKS AND LAST 3 WEEKS, RECRUITS RECEIVE ACADEMIC TRAINING WHICH INCLUDES ALL CRITICAL BASIC SKILLS SUCH AS ARREST TECHNIQUES, FIRST AID, AND FIREARMS. ALL EXAMS MUST BE PASSED WITH A SCORE OF 78 PERCENT. ACADEMY FIELD ORIENTATION IS CONDUCTED DURING THE 9TH AND 10TH WEEK AFTER WHICH RECRUITS RETURN TO THEIR OWN AGENCIES AND PERFORM SPECIFIC TASKS UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF A TRAINING OFFICER. THE STAFF THEN REVIEWS EACH RECRUIT'S PERFORMANCE. AS NEEDED, INDIVIDUALIZED REMEDIAL TRAINING ASSIGNMENTS ARE DEVELOPED FOR THOSE FOUND TO BE DEFICIENT. IT IS FELT THAT THE INTEGRATION OF ACADEMIC THEORY WITH CONTEMPORARY POLICE PROBLEMS WILL EQUIP THE RECRUIT OFFICER TO PERFORM THE DUTIES OF A PEACE OFFICER. THE ARTICLE IS ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS. (MJW)