New Officer Training
Initial Training
Training mandated by the Columbus Police Department for its recruits
is thorough and extensive.
Initially after hire and when class openings permit, the recruit
is enrolled in the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy Basic Training
Course for a period of 12 weeks. The Academy is located in Plainfield,
Indiana. A description follows.
Basic Training Course
 The Academy's 15-week course for new police officers consists of
a minimum of 480 hours of training in a variety of areas. Criminal
and traffic law, firearms, emergency vehicle operations, physical
tactics, EMS awareness and human behavior are some of the major
areas of instruction during this course. A variety of other police
related subjects such as accident investigation, criminal investigation,
domestic violence and sexual assault, water rescue training, arresting
intoxicated drivers, crime prevention and evidence collection are
included in the areas an officer must study before graduating. The
course of study is designed to incorporate practical as well as
classroom exercises so the officers have a better idea of how they
will react to situations they will encounter when they return to
their departments.
Emergency Vehicle Operations Course
Basic police recruits receive 8 hours of lecture and 40 hours of
hands-on driving instruction from veteran EVOC instructors. It includes
the basic skills of threshold braking, skid pad, evasive maneuvers,
backing and turning, shuffle steering and line of travel, pursuit
driving, practical driving and four road courses. The student must
pass each segment of the driving instruction and a comprehensive
written examination.
EMS Awareness and Physical Training
Basic police recruits receive 20 hours of lecture and practical
EMS awareness instruction from certified EMT's. Students must demonstrate
written and practical proficiency in EMS awareness. Aside from EMS
awareness, students participate in a demanding physical training
regimen over their twelve weeks. Students submit to a physical fitness
assessment on their first day, which includes weight, blood pressure,
resting heart rate, three minute step test, strength test, push-ups
and sit-ups and a 1.5 mile run. The students are evaluated throughout
the program and are required to meet minimum standards of push-ups,
sit-ups and 1.5 mile run the final week of training.
Firearms Training
Basic police recruits receive 6 hours of lecture and 40 hours of
practical firearms instruction from veteran firearms instructors.
Students must shoot a minimum qualifying score with their weapons
and pass a comprehensive written examination.
Vehicle Crash Investigations
Basic police recruits receive 24 hours of lecture and practical
vehicle crash training from veteran accident investigators. Students
must demonstrate both practical and written proficiency in vehicle
crash scenarios and written test. Aside from basic recruits, advanced
vehicle crash investigation courses are offered to veteran officers.
Criminal Investigation Training
Basic police recruits receive 20 hours of lecture and practical
instruction from veteran criminal investigators, which includes
interviews and statements, crime scene behavior, interrogations,
first responder responsibilities and collection of evidence. Students
must demonstrate a practical proficiency in taking statements and
conducting a criminal investigation involving a scenario, as well
as pass a comprehensive written examination.
Physical Tactics
Basic police recruits receive two hours of lecture and 40 hours
of practical training in physical tactics from veteran physical
tactics instructors. This includes training in pressure points,
joint locks, handcuffing, strikes/blocks/combinations, straight
baton, ground fighting and weapon retention. Students must demonstrate
a proficiency in each of the areas and pass a comprehensive written
examination.
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program
The Academy has entered into a collaborative agreement with the
Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) and the Indiana
Coalition Against Sexual Assault (INCASA) to provide detailed domestic
violence and sexual assault training. The program has been funded
by a grant awarded to ICADV and INCASA.
Basic police recruits will receive eight hours of training involving
victim and officer safety, safety planning, legal issues, impact
of arrest, intervention and investigation, victim assistance, overview
of sexual assault, police response to sexual assault and a survivors
panel.
For more information regarding the Academy, visit the Indiana
Law Enforcement Academy website.
Field Training Program
Upon graduation from the academy, the officer returns to CPD where
he or she begins the 15 week Field Training Program.
Each recruit is assigned an individual FTO (Field Training Officer)
for a period of 4 weeks or so. The schedule runs as follows:
- One-week limbo period (1st FTO)
- Four-week evaluation period (1st FTO)
- Four-week evaluation period (2nd FTO)
- Four-week evaluation period (3rd FTO)
- Two-week (final) evaluation period (1st FTO).
After this 15 weeks of training, the final recommendation is made
by the FTO's and FTO Sergeants. A Recommendation can be either a
successful completion or one where it is determined the recruit
shall have continued training for a set amount of time.
A recruit is not used as a solo officer in any capacity during
the training program.
Continuing Training
So that an officer maintains the highest level of proficiency in
all areas, training does not stop after the academy and the FTO
program. Each year every officer must continue extensive training
in the following areas:
- CPR
- Defensive Tactics
- ASP Baton
- Firearms
- E.V.O.C . (Emergency Vehicle Operations)
- Domestic Violence
- Cultural Diversity
- Blood-Born Pathogens
- HazMat (Hazardous Materials Precautions)
This list is not all-inclusive. A variety of other courses are
addressed each year. |
