4.8 Personnel Training

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Centreville Police Department
Title: Personnel Training Directive #: 4.8
Issued: 10.1.2016 Revised: 7.12.2018 / Rev. #1
Approved by: Kenneth N. Rhodes
Chief of Police
A. The Training Function
1. Training has often been cited as one of the most important functions in any law enforcement agency.
Training serves the following purposes:
a. Well trained officers are generally better prepared to act decisively and correctly in a broad spectrum
of situations.
b. Training results in greater performance and effectiveness.
c. Training fosters cooperation and unity of purpose.
2. The Department may be held legally accountable for the actions of their personnel and for failure to
provide entrance level, in-service and remedial training. The Centreville Police Department recognizes the
importance of training and is committed to providing the best training available to all personnel.
B. Training Activities
1. Training activities include, but are not limited to the following:
a. Training for both sworn and civilian personnel.
b. Planning and development of training programs.
c. Notifying personnel of required training and specialized individual training available to Department
personnel.
d. Maintenance and security of Departmental training records.
e. Ensuring that training programs are attended, and that progress/evaluation reports, vouchers, and
records related thereto are maintained.
f. Implementation of training programs.
g. Selecting instructors.
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h. Evaluation of training programs.
i. Coordination of training programs.
j. Maintaining liaison between the Department and other training organizations.
k. Ensuring that all training activities are conducted within the framework of Department goals in
cooperation with all operational units.
C. Resources Used for Training Development
1. The resources used in the training program development will include at a minimum:
• Staff meetings
• Consultation with department personnel
• Field observations
• Officer course evaluation reports
• Officer investigative reports
• Vehicle accident reports involving officers
• Complaints on Department personnel and/or disciplinary action
• Consultation with allied law enforcement agencies, to include the State’s Attorney’s Office
• Training topics that have been mandated by the Maryland Police Training and Standards
Commission.
2. The input obtained from these resources will be furnished to the Department Training Coordinator.
D. Training Attendance
1. Members of the Centreville Police Department shall attend all assigned training programs.
2. There are cases where attendance at a training program may be excused, i.e., court appearance or
sickness. Any absence/tardiness must be properly excused by the administrators of the program being
attended and must be in compliance with directives under which the training program is being operated.
3. Any time an Officer fails to attend assigned training or is going to be late in attending any training, he shall
notify his supervisor immediately.
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4. Attendance will be documented by the instructor and generally a certificate of completion will be issued
to those students who successfully complete any training program. A copy of any certificate issued will be
provided to the Department Training Coordinator for inclusion in the Officer’s Training File.
E. Training Expenses
Any expenses incurred by Department personnel while attending required or mandated training, will be
reimbursed based on actual expenditures that are supported by receipts. Expenses associated while
attending optional training assignments, while encouraged, may not be reimbursed.
F. Training Opportunities and Resources
The Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission provides information concerning training
opportunities available at regional training centers. In addition, the Maryland State Police, other police
departments, colleges and private groups, also provide brochures of available training.
G. Performance Based Training
1. The Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission requires Performance Based Training during
entrance level training. The Centreville Police Department Field Training Program is based on a
relationship of training to Job Task Analysis. This method of training is used in all training offered by the
Department and requires that performance objectives be developed for such training. Performance
objectives will be submitted to the Training Coordinator and the Chief of Police for approval before such
training will commence. Performance objectives will include:
a. Focus on the elements of the job task analysis for which training is needed;
b. Provide clear statements of what is to be learned;
c. Provide the basis for evaluation of the participants;
d. Provide the basis for evaluating the effectiveness of the training program
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2. The use of performance objectives acquaint the training participants with the information they are required to
know, the skills that must be demonstrated, and the circumstances under which the skills will be used. This
approach enables instructors to relate training directly to job performance.
H. Remedial Training
1. Remedial training is directed at solving a particular problem or improving the performance of an employee
in a particular area within a given time frame with the expectation of improved performance.
a. Criteria used to determine the need for remedial training may be obtained from the employee
performance evaluation, counseling report or in the case of new recruits from the FTO/Supervisor's
Evaluations.
b. Remedial training assignments, just as all other training assignments, are a duty assignment.
Employees who do not participate in remedial training as directed are in violation of Department
Rules and Regulations.
J. Training Records
1. The Chief of Police will maintain updated records of training on all Department personnel as follows:
a. Individual training records will reflect:
(1) Date of Training;
(2) Type of Training received;
(3) Any certificate received;
(4) Attendance; and
(5) Test Score.
2. Training records will be treated the same as personnel records. Only those persons as authorized by law
will have access to the records.
K. Training Instructors
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1. Any Officer that has indicated a desire to become a Law Enforcement Instructor, regardless of subject
matter shall meet the following requirements:
a. Have a minimum of three years police experience and/or;
b. Have successfully completed an instructor's course and be certified as an instructor by the MPTSC
and/or;
c. Possess a demonstrated skill in area of instruction; and
d. Be knowledgeable of teaching theories, methods and practices and have some knowledge of law
enforcement practices.
L. Field Training
1. All newly sworn officers of the Centreville Police Department shall complete the Department Field
Training Officer (FTO) Program.
2. The Centreville Police Department has a Field Training Program which encompasses no less than 300
hours of post academy training. The FTO Program will fall under the direction of the Training
Coordinator who will utilize the Field Training Officer to coordinate and ensure the administration of the
program. Provisions of the Field Training Program are provided below:
a. Field training for sworn personnel who have no prior law enforcement training/experience will be no
less than 300 hours.
b. Field training for sworn personnel who have prior law enforcement training/experience shall be of the
minimum length as prescribed by the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission, but may be
extended to a length as directed by the Chief. Field Training will commence as soon as possible upon
completion of entrance level training, or as soon as possible after appointment of a lateral hire.
c. Field Training Officers are very critical to the program, as their attitude, values and tactics set the
example for recruit officers. The selection process for FTO's is crucial and will meet the following
criteria:
(1) The FTO should be recommended by his immediate supervisor;
(2) The FTO candidate must have a minimum of two years experience as a police officer; and,
(3) The FTO candidate must possess a current satisfactory evaluation.
d. The Lieutenant has the responsibility of supervising the FTO and recruit.
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3. Recruits should be assigned to and remain with a single Field Training Officer for the duration of field
training. Recruits should further perform and be exposed to all aspects of police work (desk duty, prisoner
transportation, court appearance, etc.) while accompanied by their Field Training Officer.
M. In Service and Advanced Training
1. In Service Training: All sworn personnel of the Centreville Police Department will attend in-service
training on an annual basis as mandated by the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission. In
addition, on a yearly basis, all sworn personnel will attend the following:
a. Classes required at the direction of the Chief of Police such as:
(1) Supervisory and management training;
(2) Policy and procedure training; and
(3) Any other training as deemed necessary.
2. All requests for specialized or advanced training will be forwarded to the Chief of Police, through the chain
of command, for approval.
N. College Attendance Records and Academic Improvement
1. Procedure
Police employees attending accredited college classes are urged to forward transcripts of final
semester grades to the Chief of Police for inclusion in their personnel records.
2. With emphasis on police education growing, it is incumbent upon the members of the Centreville Police
Department to avail themselves to the opportunity to obtain a higher education whenever possible.
Certain guidelines will be followed to enhance the opportunity for members of the Department to acquire
academic credits.
3. The Chief of Police, or designee, may adjust work schedules, consistent with duty requirements, to assist
personnel in attending job related courses. However, no one will be permitted to attend class during duty
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hours. This prohibition does not pertain to on duty assignments in connection with in service training,
entrance level training, or other training assigned by the Department.
O. Police Employee – Certification and Decertification Procedures
The Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) empowers the Training Commission to authorize persons to
serve as police officers, and to suspend, revoke or recall any such authorization given by it. The Commission
will certify authorization only for those persons who meet minimum standards established by it.
1. The Chief of Police, or designee, shall be responsible to schedule police employees to receive all required
training and to certify to the Commission that its mandated standards have been met.
2. Should an employee fail to meet a training standard established by the Commission, the Chief of Police
will, if appropriate, request a waiver of the training standard. Records of any such waiver and subsequent
action by the Commission will be maintained in the Officers Personnel File.
3. Should an employee fail to meet a mandated standard and the Commission not grant a waiver and if the
employee’s certification is suspended, revoked or recalled, the Chief of Police will notify the employee.
4. Police employees whose certification is suspended, revoked or recalled by the Maryland Police Training
and Standards Commission shall have their police powers suspended. No employee will have their police
powers restored until they are re-certified.
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