Following a general discussion of the need for new training perspectives that will help close the gap between theory and practice in police training, the increasing importance of audio-visual techniques in police training is considered, with attention to the audio-visual aids used at the Ecole Royale de Gendarmerie, including magnetic tapes, cassettes, records, transceivers, films, slides, and closed-circuit television. The advantages of television and video in teaching are then identified, including the portrayal of role models, self observation, reduction in training time, uniformity in teaching content, and the more effective transfer of knowledge. The role of the instructor in relation to the use of audio-visual techniques in training is discussed. Limitations and difficulties in using audio-visual techniques in teaching are noted to include technical malfunctions, limited response to diversities in student perspectives, and knowing which audio-visuals to select to achieve certain training goals. Applications of audio-visual techniques in police training are briefly described for some police forces in the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. The concluding section of the article describes the functions of the audio-visual center of the Ecole Royale de Gendarmerie. Nineteen bibliographic entries are listed.