5 ms·

How much training/school do US police get on average before starting their jobs?

Fezzik 6y ago
In Oregon it’s 21-weeks followed by a probationary period. At least for the Oregon State Police: you attend five weeks of pre-academy and sixteen weeks of regular academy. Then there are ongoing trainings and required education courses. I’ve had numerous friends go through the process, with some failing out, and they all agree it is both thorough and grueling. Edit: grammar
- 082349872349872 6y ago
  It's two years for the local municipal police. For comparison, nationwide we have less than 1 police fatality per 10 mm population. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_by_country https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforc...
  - jessaustin 6y ago
    What municipality is that? That is remarkably longer than the training taken by multiple family members of mine.
    - jcims 6y ago
      There's typically a training 'residency' period for new police officers as well. Where I'm at it's one year plus the original ~600-1000 hours in academy.
    - 082349872349872 6y ago
      A municipality in one of denmark, iceland, japan, poland, switzerland, taiwan, or the UK. Compare https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23376741 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23376741 (It's difficult to bear witness for any length of time without revealing far more than 30 bits of information about oneself. Therefore, my post history will narrow it down to the city, if you really wish that level of detail. But I believe the 2 years is the same for my "state" and its neighbours, whom we share a police academy with, and roughly the same across the country. NB that we don't even have judicial execution, so extra-judicial execution would especially be frowned upon. Regret, by definition, comes too late; Say what you mean. Bear witness. Iterate. )
      - jessaustin 6y ago
        One bit of information was enough: you're not in USA, which is the context assumed by TFA and much of the rest of the discussion here. Congratulations on living where police are less of a menace.
- torwayburger 6y ago
  So it's a 5-6 month training window with a trial period upon hire (which most jobs have). That's similar to for example a Comcast installer. I have no experience with the specific training and so on but it sounds a little short/rudimentary compared to a lot of other places.
StillBored 6y ago
I'm personally of the opinion that much of the training is the problem. The vast majority ends up enforcing a "us vs them" mindset. So, outside of legal classes, what they need to do is get out of the freaking cars and talk to people, so they understand that not everyone is out to shoot them.

In Oregon it’s 21-weeks followed by a probationary period. At least for the Oregon State Police: you attend five weeks of pre-academy and sixteen weeks of regular academy. Then there are ongoing trainings and required education courses. I’ve had numerous friends go through the process, with some failing out, and they all agree it is both thorough and grueling. Edit: grammar

082349872349872 6y ago
It's two years for the local municipal police. For comparison, nationwide we have less than 1 police fatality per 10 mm population. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_by_country https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforc...
- jessaustin 6y ago
  What municipality is that? That is remarkably longer than the training taken by multiple family members of mine.
  - jcims 6y ago
    There's typically a training 'residency' period for new police officers as well. Where I'm at it's one year plus the original ~600-1000 hours in academy.
  - 082349872349872 6y ago
    A municipality in one of denmark, iceland, japan, poland, switzerland, taiwan, or the UK. Compare https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23376741 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23376741 (It's difficult to bear witness for any length of time without revealing far more than 30 bits of information about oneself. Therefore, my post history will narrow it down to the city, if you really wish that level of detail. But I believe the 2 years is the same for my "state" and its neighbours, whom we share a police academy with, and roughly the same across the country. NB that we don't even have judicial execution, so extra-judicial execution would especially be frowned upon. Regret, by definition, comes too late; Say what you mean. Bear witness. Iterate. )
    - jessaustin 6y ago
      One bit of information was enough: you're not in USA, which is the context assumed by TFA and much of the rest of the discussion here. Congratulations on living where police are less of a menace.
torwayburger 6y ago
So it's a 5-6 month training window with a trial period upon hire (which most jobs have). That's similar to for example a Comcast installer. I have no experience with the specific training and so on but it sounds a little short/rudimentary compared to a lot of other places.

StillBored 6y ago

I'm personally of the opinion that much of the training is the problem. The vast majority ends up enforcing a "us vs them" mindset. So, outside of legal classes, what they need to do is get out of the freaking cars and talk to people, so they understand that not everyone is out to shoot them.