Introduction
In every profession, continuous learning separates average performers from exceptional ones. Law enforcement is no different. But ongoing police education remains anemic in many departments once academy ends. This stagnation places officers and communities at risk as skills decay and knowledge becomes outdated. By embracing a culture of lifelong learning, agencies can develop adaptable personnel equipped to navigate complex new threats. This guide details the research on continuous education’s impact and practical strategies to make it a reality within department constraints. The time for merely talking about professionalization is over. Let’s walk the walk and implement the structures that invest in our personnel.
Ongoing Training Sharpens Critical Skills
Research confirms advanced training hones the vital skills that underpin public and officer safety:
- Officers receiving regular refreshers show superior shooting accuracy, defensive tactics abilities, and emergency vehicle operation compared to untrained peers. Perishable skills degrade quickly.
- Annual legal updates reduce liability and lawsuits by strengthening understanding of emerging case law precedents and high-risk areas like use of force application.
- Those trained in tactical communication techniques like verbal de-escalation employ 70% fewer force options during volatile encounters. Words become tools.
- Superior interview and interrogation methods derived from advanced courses produce improved clearance rates and stronger cases with fewer false confessions.
- Regularity is key – spaced practice over a career solidifies abilities far more than a single intensive academy.
The evidence is clear – we must break the mindset that training ends after swearing in.
Specialized Courses Build Critical Capabilities
While foundational academy courses set the baseline, specialized education addresses real-world intricacies:
- School resource and youth interaction training ensures officers connect properly with vulnerable student populations.
- Courses on topics like gang culture, human trafficking, and extremism keep officers informed on evolving security threats.
- Cybercrime, social media investigations, and digital forensics instruction equips personnel to handle new tech-enabled offenses.
- Command and specialized assignments require tailored leadership, investigations, and administration training.
- External conferences, seminars, and degree programs facilitate exposure to new policing philosophies and methodologies.
Prioritize developmental incentives on the capabilities your community needs most. Training should align with risk profiles.
Reduce Liability Through Ongoing Policy Training
While values are instilled early, policy knowledge requires constant reinforcement as laws and best practices evolve:
- Annual legal updates reduce liability by keeping officers aware of relevant court rulings on high-risk areas like use of force.
- Brief policy refreshers at roll calls maintain top-of-mind awareness on high-liability actions.
- Clear communication from leadership on policy changes and the reasons behind them supports retention.
- Software platforms like Lexipol that push policy content to officers as laws shift foster rapid integration of procedures.
- Systems to confirm policy reviews support accountability.
Lawsuits and complaints drain resources. Routine legal-policy training is a prudent investment.
Instill Community-Oriented Policing Philosophies
Training focused solely on technical skills leads to outdated militaristic mindsets. Modern curriculums ground officers in community needs:
- Implicit bias and multicultural education builds understanding of diverse population perspectives.
- Procedural justice training reinforces that evenhanded, respectful treatment fosters community trust and cooperation.
- Crisis intervention, de-escalation, and mental health response tactics make force a last resort.
- Joint trainings with reform advocates, community partners, and social service providers sow collaborative values.
- Scenario-based training builds empathy and understanding of different backgrounds.
Community policing principles become norms through immersive adult learning. Prioritize its place in curriculums.
Apply Adult Learning Best Practices
Effective delivery maximizes comprehension and retention. Training must:
- Leverage scenario-based, interactive methods. Adults learn best by doing.
- Ensure instructor quality through vetting and evaluations. Poor teachers ingrain poor practices.
- Carefully balance length, activities, multimedia, and pace based on course objectives.
- Evaluate knowledge transfer through assessments and surveys.
- Use spaced intervals for reinforcement as skills fade quickly.
Following evidence-based andragogy produces the sticky learning that translates into changed field performance.
Incentivize Education with Career Boosts
While lovers of learning will pursue growth intrinsically, incentives boost participation and solidify culture change. Options include:
- Incremental pay bumps for completed certifications, degrees, and training milestones.
- Bonus vacation days awarded for external courses completed on off time.
- Preferences in shift/beat bidding and grant-funded specialty positions for educated personnel.
- Formal consideration of advanced degrees in promotion decisions where all else is equal.
- Department commendations and recognition for completion of advanced certifications.
If you want continuous education embraced, avoid perceptions that it’s uncompensated, “check the box” activity.
Leverage Digital Learning Management Systems
While traditional classroom learning is indispensable, technology enables efficient continuous development:
- Video tutorials, webinars, and interactive online courses provide on-demand refreshers.
- Learning management systems track completions and testing results to validate comprehension.
- Discussion boards and peer learning networks foster ongoing skill sharing.
- Daily smartphone micro-lessons reinforce key concepts through repetition.
- Gamefied training apps increase engagement and knowledge retention.
Digital delivery supplements in-person academies. Utilize multimedia formats personnel enjoy and conduct post-training surveys.
Conclusion
Exceptional law enforcement depends on exceptional training – yet many agencies neglect continuous officer development. The evidence shows ongoing education hones critical skills, builds specialized capabilities, reduces liability, advances community policing philosophies, and professionalizes personnel. But enacting these adult learning best practices requires dedication across scheduling, budgeting, staffing, processes, and culture. While challenging, the payoff – increased performance, safety, community relations, and career satisfaction – makes the effort worthwhile. Officers hunger for growth. Agencies must create ecosystems where they can thrive through lifelong learning. The smartest cops don’t stop at the academy. They stay ahead of the curve. What will you implement this year to ensure your personnel lead through continuous education? Click here to conduct police training surveys today!
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should officers receive refresher training?
Policing experts recommend annual refresher training across critical skills like defensive tactics, legal procedures, firearms usage, patrol driving, bias awareness, and emerging issues facing the department and community.
What delivery formats best enable ongoing officer learning?
Blended digital platforms, micro-lessons, interactive online tutorials, virtual reality training simulations, podcasts, multimedia content, and social learning networks allow efficient continuous development alongside traditional in-person classroom instruction.
How long do police skills remain sharp without retraining?
Research shows core policing skills like driving, shooting, self-defense tactics, and knowledge of laws and procedures deteriorate within 6-12 months without retraining. Timely refreshers are crucial.
How is advanced officer education typically incentivized?
Leading departments incentivize continuous education through pay increases for degrees and certifications, preference in promotions, public recognition, bonus vacation time, specialty assignment opportunities, and intrinsic satisfaction of growth and mastery.
What risks does inadequate training pose?
Insufficient ongoing training correlates with reduced capabilities, increased errors and misconduct, higher liability from ignorance of laws, lack of alignment with community needs, and inhibited professionalization of law enforcement.
