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Decentralized In-service Training Within Large Departments

NCJ Number
78127
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 48 Issue: 7 Dated: (July 1981) Pages: 39-41,73
Author(s)
J F Duignan
Date Published
1981
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the philosophy and nature of a decentralized inservice training program for police officers who work within large departments.
Abstract
Inservice training is necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the police officer and the attainment of departmental goals. An effective inservice training program within a large police department should be organized along the basic dichotomy of decentralized authority with centralized control. Using this approach, the training officers design, implement, and evaluate the program, while actual instruction is decentralized to personnel within the various operational units. Thus, the training program does the traveling while the operational personnel remain at their assigned locations. An analysis of training needs is derived from a number of sources, including personal interviews with those who perform the tasks, observation, examination of department records, questionnaires, and tests. It is important that the department training officer become centrally involved in the needs analysis. Instructors are selected from among personnel at the decentralized units. The instruction phase begins after timely announcement to the rank and file, course development, and selection of field instructors. Evaluation of the program is indispensible and should involve several perspectives. The most important perspective is the evaluation offered by the trainee. Providing a followup training summary to all participants extends the usefulness of a training course.