I. PURPOSE

The major purpose of recruit training is to prepare each recruit officer with the basic skills required in the field of law enforcement.

II. TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

Police Recruit Training will consist of two phases. Phase I, the successful completion of the Police Recruit Academy, and Phase II, the successful completion/evaluation of work performed under the Field Training Officer program.

A. Phase I - Police Recruit Academy

1. The academic portion of the police recruit class training shall consist of approximately 24 weeks or 960 hours of training.

2. Normal recruit class hours are from 0645 to 1530 hours daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Class hours may be changed or rescheduled by the instructor or class supervisor.

3. All police recruits shall be required to attend all scheduled training classes. Exceptions may be granted by the Chief of Police.

4. General Rules of Conduct shall be prepared and issued to each member of the police recruit class prior to each new session of recruit training. Students are to be guided by these rules during the entire period of training.

5. Commencing with the first week of recruit training, weekly mid-term and final examinations shall be given. Examinations shall be graded and critiqued with the class. Mid-term and final examinations are additions to the weekly examinations.

6. Academic Deficiencies:

A police recruit in class will be considered academically deficient under the following circumstances:

a. By failing to achieve a passing score of 75% correct answers in any written examination given.

b. By failing to pass a proficiency examination in the Police Combat Pistol Course with a score of 80%.

7. Examination scores will be closely monitored, evaluated, and addressed, in the following manner:

a. First weekly examination failure - student counseling.

b. Second consecutive weekly examination failure - academic probation.

c. Third consecutive weekly examination failure - course failure.

d. Mid-term and final examination failure - course failure.

8. Student Evaluations and Counseling

All students will be evaluated by the class supervisor on a daily basis. The evaluation shall be based on the following:

a. Academic standing.

b. Development of job skills

c. Personal behavior and attitude.

d. Personal appearance.

e. Relationship with others.

The class supervisor shall prepare a written monthly evaluation and discuss it with each student. Appropriate counseling shall be provided where necessary. Failure to achieve and maintain an overall monthly work evaluation of "Satisfactory" or above will result in dismissal.

9. Academic Probation

A student who fails two consecutive weekly examinations shall be placed on academic probation.

These academic deficiencies will be discussed with the student and he/she will be strongly advised that the quality of his/her work must improve in order to c0ontinue in the police recruit training program.

To be released from academic probation, the student must successfully pass the next class examination. In addition to successfully passing the next class examination, the police recruit shall be retested on the subject matter which initially placed him/her on the academic probation. This is to ensure that the police recruit is knowledgeable of that subject matter.

10. Course Failure

Failure of three consecutive weekly examinations shall indicate that the student has not reached the academic level necessary to become a police officer.

Course failure shall result in termination of employment with the Hawaii County Police Department.

11. Firearms Qualifications/Examinations

All students shall be required to qualify in the use of the police service semiautomatic pistol and shotgun.

Proficiency examinations shall consist of a Police Combat Pistol Course.

Failure to achieve a passing score upon completion of firearms training will result in a course failure and dismissal from the police department.

12. Physical Fitness

Police recruits shall participate and are required to meet and maintain the minimum acceptable level of fitness standards as defined in Section 18 of the Police Recruit Manual. Recruits shall be tested periodically in the following areas:

a. Body Composition (% body fat).

b. Flexibility (sit and reach).

c. Dynamic Strength (crunches).

d. Absolute Strength (bench press/leg press)

e. Cardiovascular Endurance (1.5-mile run/walk).

Failure to achieve and maintain the minimum acceptable level of physical fitness may result in course failure.

B. Phase II - Field Training Officer Program

1. Upon successful completion of Phase I (Academic), the police recruit shall advance to Phase II (Practical), and be assigned to work with one or more seasoned police officers under the Field Training Officer (FTO) program. The duration of Phase II shall be approximately 14 weeks.

2. The purpose and function of the Field Training Officer program are:

a. To motivate, train, and evaluate recruit officers from the classroom setting into the practical application of applying what they have learned in the field on a one-to-one basis.

b. To provide a positive, non-stressful learning environment for recruit officers.

c. To provide field training officers as role models for recruit officers.

d. To develop competent, well-trained police officers.

3. The standards of proficiency set by the Field Training Officer program are to ensure that each recruit officer completing the training will have received the necessary instructions and guidance under field conditions to meet the standards of the department.

WAYNE G. CARVALHO
CHIEF OF POLICE

(Amended: 02-02-98)