Before beginning their official duties as a law enforcement officer, all officers must receive proper training. Some law enforcement agencies hire an applicant and then pay for the applicant to attend a specific law enforcement training center. Many others, on the other hand, expect applicants to have completed all required training prior to applying for a job. Accreditation, post-graduation employment rates, and first-hand recommendations from local law enforcement agencies should all be taken into account when choosing a law enforcement training center.
Before “hitting the streets,” a law enforcement officer must be trained in a number of critical areas. The majority of law enforcement training programs teach students about firearms, basic laws, psychology, and investigative techniques, among other things. Choosing the right law enforcement training center can mean the difference between getting a job offer and not.
Accreditation is crucial when looking for a law enforcement training center. The Federal Law Enforcement Training Accreditation (FLETA), as well as many state agencies, offer a variety of state and federal accreditation options in the United States. One of the first questions a prospective student should ask when researching programs is whether or not the program is accredited and whom.
Examining the post-graduation employment rates is another way to assess the quality of a law enforcement training center. A good program should not be afraid to provide statistics on how many of their former students have gone on to work as police officers. Many programs will also provide a prospective student with the names of previous students as well as a point of contact to ask further questions. Former and current students are both excellent sources of information. Spending a day at the center and speaking with current students may also provide useful information that will assist a prospective student in making an informed decision.
Inquiring directly with local law enforcement agencies should not be overlooked during the decision-making process, especially if the student intends to apply to one. Even if the agency does not send new hires to a specific law enforcement training center, they may have a preference or a list of centers to recommend to a potential applicant. Inquiring directly with a law enforcement agency has the added benefit of providing additional information that can assist an applicant in the application process.