Police Basic Training, Certificate

Degree: Certificate
HEGIS Code: 5505
Curriculum Code: 1827.PBT
Business & Public Service Division

Career Opportunities/Further Education: Law enforcement agencies, correctional facilities and security operations, but the primary focus is on police agencies. Graduates also receive certification from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services which certifies the student to attend an abbreviated (“Phase II”) Police Equivalency Course (six-week course) if hired by a police agency.

• Program Description
• Program Competencies
• Enrollment Requirements
• Curriculum

Program Description

The Pre-employment Police Basic Training Certificate Program provides students with the opportunity to complete many aspects of basic police training before being appointed as a police officer in New York. Based on the approach already used in 36 states, New York now allows approved police academies to offer men and women interested in police careers the opportunity to complete much of the mandated academy work prior to being hired by a department. The SUNY Erie/Central Police Services Academy is authorized to conduct the “Phase I” program and is now accepting applications.

The Police Basic Training Certificate Program is designed to equip students with the knowledge of criminal law, physical fitness, emergency vehicle operation, first aid, and a number of other relevant subjects. This program requires 24 credit hours prior to enrollment. This 24-hour requirement is waived for veterans. Upon successful completion of the program, students will receive another 38 credit hours and will be eligible for hiring.  They still must take and pass a civil service exam for most police positions in New York State and meet exam criteria including age requirement (usually 20 years of age or older). 

The certificate delves into the above topics and helps prepare individuals for their future employment with local police departments. Our mission is to enhance public safety in our community through programs that emphasize ethics, excellence, professionalism and current “best practices” in our field for entry level and veteran public safety professionals.

The Academy is full-time, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., for 20 weeks. This concentrated program allows you to complete 38 credits in one extended semester.

Program Competencies

Upon graduation with the certificate in Police Basic Training, the recruit will be able to;

1. Firearms and Weapons  - Attain a level of proficiency set by the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services for the proper use and handling of their police service weapon, meeting or exceeding a score of 80%.   Shooting is done at the range in a timed and distance course meeting both the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Law Enforcement Training Academy standards.  Recruits must demonstrate proper technique for both spraying OC pepper spray while at the same time successfully protecting possession of their firearm while being sprayed (weapon retention exercise).  Achieve a score of 80% or higher on the written test on the use of force including the use of deadly physical force.
2. Operation of Police Vehicles and Traffic - Achieve a level of proficiency that demonstrates the safe and proper handling of a police vehicle under routine driving conditions and under emergency response situations where controlled speed is utilized.  They are taught and then tested on a course that meets the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Standards and the Law Enforcement Training Academy standards. Recruits are evaluated on a scoring metric table adjusted for time and performance and achieve a passing grade of 80% or more for the course. 
3. Report and Note Taking  - Properly prepare complete and grammatically correct police reports based on scenarios given to them comparable to real life situations encountered by police officers.   Evaluation of their reports is based on completeness, grammar and sentence structure acceptable for police work. Recruits must score 70% or higher to pass the course. 
4. Community Policing - Illustrate in writing (term paper) a proven or proposed community policing practice/theory that could be utilized in improving and fostering good police community relations.  Conduct a five -minute oral presentation on the application of a community policing practice/theory in a real-life situation.  Recruits must achieve a passing grade of 70% or higher to pass the course. 
5. Emergency Medical Services - Successfully utilize emergency medical procedures mandated by the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services.  These skills include administering CPR, applying a tourniquet, demonstrate use of the Heimlich maneuver and other skills taught in this class.   They must also pass a final exam achieving a score of 80% or higher.
6. Physical Fitness/Defensive Tactics and Arrest Techniques - Display a level of physical fitness mandated by the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Law Enforcement Training Academy.  These standards are based on national standards referred to as the Cooper Standards, which set minimum for the run, sit-ups, and push-ups adjusted for age and gender at the 50th Percentile.  Recruits must achieve a score of 70% or higher.   For Defensive Tactics and arrest techniques recruits are taught the proper use of force tactics to be used for arrest and defensive tactic situations.   Recruits must perform these skills before evaluators and earn a score of 80% or higher. 
7. Law/Criminal Procedures - Interpret and be able to demonstrate the application of the New York State Penal Law, Criminal Procedure Law, Vehicle and Traffic Law, and other ancillary laws.   Testing and evaluation are conducted through a series and combination of quizzes, a major law exam and practical testing of recruits applying this knowledge in various situations/scenarios.  A pass/fail is used for scenarios and a score of 70% or higher for classroom tests.

Enrollment Requirements

• Must have completed 24 credit hours of college course work (waived for veterans and for recruits already hired and meeting the entry standards for their agency/department).
• Must have a 2.5 QPA or higher.
• Must have no felony convictions.
• Must have valid NYS Driver’s License.
• Must be able to pass a physical agility pre-test (push-ups, sit-ups and 1.5 mile run).
• Must pass an oral interview by Academy Committee.
• Must be a legal resident of New York State.
• Must be 20 years of age or older by the start date of the academy.   This is the minimum age requirement for most police officer civil service exams. 
• Must pass all of SUNY Erie admission criteria.

Curriculum

Total Degree Credits: 38 or 46