Recruitment selaction process of officers - Essay Example

Police Recruitment and Training Procedures al Affiliation Introduction Recruitment and training of policemen and police women differ among different police departments across the nation, however most departments narrow down important factors for recruitment and training on certain dimensions for instance physical and mental states. This paper shall discuss the dimensions involved in police recruitment and training. Police RecruitmentPeople who wish to join the United States police departments spread across local, state and federal governments must fulfill certain conditions before being accepted to proceed to the next levels of police recruitment process.

Most police departments for instance require a certain level of education attainments to qualify for the recruitment process. More than four of every five police departments in the US, demand for a high school diploma, with at least 15 per cent of others requiring a minimum level of college training, and preferably a two year course work, with only about 1% requires that the participants have at least a four year college degree (National Institute of Justice & United States, 2005). Physical traits that include height and weight which have previously been quite crucial trait required for the selection process have been dropped or relaxed in favor of women who would have the urge to join the force.

The levels of education it is assumed is essential for the next level of the recruitment process which involves a written examination. The examination is basically set to gauge the some degree of skills necessary for the making of a competent officer. Some of these skills include: map reading, decision making skills, reading abilities, report writing and written communications skills and skills that tests ones intelligence quotient (I.Q).The background of the person to be recruited is also important to shield individuals with questionable characters from gaining access to join the police force; a polygraph may be used to ascertain the truthfulness of the answers provided for most of the questions asked.

A physical ability test that gauges the endurance levels of those who wish to join is also important as the police are subjected to intense conditions in the day to day work life. A polygraph may also be required to further ascertain or gauge the level of truthfulness in the answers provided by the respective candidates. A psychological and medical examinations is also important to rule out the possibility of recruiting individuals who are sick and thus unfavorable and enabling the recruitment of individuals with sound minds.

Components of the training processEach and every state in the US has a different set of rules when it comes to the process of police training. In some, one only needs to visit a local college and undertake a basic law enforcement course in any state-sponsored institution then proceed to applying for any agency of choice. The academic certificate obtained here is an important requirement for some other recruitment. There are no benchmarks that exist for the specific set of training offered to the various police departments, but most states are obliged to observe the Peace Officers Standard Commission (POST) that are specific to each state and which requires for minimum selection standards for recruitment procedures.

Most of the training that police officers undergo usually involves, for the most part, classroom based which are laced with practical exercises for further reinforce the theory aspect of the training.In other jurisdictions, one I required to complete a training program tailor made for that specific police department and vital for policing in those specific states, while yet in others the department may outsource such training from other police departments.The instructions for are given for various topics essential for the success of the training process and that includes basic first aid procedures, arm handling, vehicle operation, self defense, criminal law, investigations, human socialization skills, the ethical issues involved in becoming a police officer, constitutional law, juvenile law procedure and patrol techniques.

ConclusionsTraining and recruitment of police is fundamental to nation that seeks to protect private property as well as enforce to its laws. The trainees admitted to police colleges are usually those that lack have impressive background information free from criminal involvement. Further, the trainees must be physically and mentally able to maintain the high demands of paramilitary training that is common in most police training colleges. Reference ListNational Institute of Justice (U.S.), & United States. (2005). Enhancing police integrity.

Washington, D.C. (810 Seventh St., N.W., Washington 20531: U.S. Dept. of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice.