police Training

 

APD Training is broken down into two sections:

  1. In-service Training Unit - existing officers/department employees

  2. Academy Training Unit - recruits

In-service training unit

Officer training doesn’t end after a recruit graduates from the academy. Officers and support staff engage in annual “in-service” training to keep up with certification standards, learn new skills, and reinforce skills. All of this requires a team of dedicated professionals! The APD In-service Training Unit has a big job. Below is a “shortlist” of the things the training unit is responsible for:

  • Creating and implementing training plans and courses for recruits, officers, detectives, and non-sworn employees.

  • Overseeing and monitoring the effectiveness of training.

  • Maintaining training records, student performance, training supply inventory, etc.

  • Maintaining department firearms program, training, qualifications, inspections, repairs, and supply.

  • Researching, reviewing, updating, and teaching the latest police best practices from across the US.

  • Providing remedial training for those in need.

  • Researching, maintaining, training, and providing updates for all less-lethal weapons such as taser, OC spray, pepper ball, and 40mm kinetic energy weapons.

  • Provide training to outside groups, like the Citizens Academy, and Active Threat Response training for municipal departments, as needed/requested.

Academy training unit

In recent history, the Academy Training Unit has trained 2 academies per year. Recruits go through over 1,063 hours of training over the course of 25 weeks. There’s a lot more that goes into academy training than just the instruction. This team of instructors is responsible for putting the best-trained officers on the street to serve the community. The list below highlights a small segment of what recruits learn in the academy. If you’re interested in joining APD as an officer, check out our recruiting website: www.joinapd.org

Defensive Tactics: 87+ hours

  • Firearms: 145+ hours

  • Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (EVOC): 40 hours

  • Criminal/Traffic/Civil Law: 100+ hours

  • Cultural Awareness: 67+ hours

  • Physical Fitness: 44+ hours

  • CPR/Tactical Medicine: 30 hours

  • Report Writing/Interview Skills: 98+ hours

  • Reality-Based Training: 101+ hours

  • Officer Survival Skills Testing: 40 hours

  • Less Lethal Weapon Certification: 24 hours