SgtCHP
03-26-2009, 09:39 AM
Law enforcement training
Reversing course
Academy totals drop; college's up
Stacia Glenn, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/25/2009 01:33:25 PM PDT
Now that few police departments can afford to pay the thousands needed to send new officers to the regional training academy, the number of people willing to pay their own way has skyrocketed.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Basic Training Academy for decades has guided its own recruits and law enforcement trainees from surrounding counties through 23 weeks of rigorous courses and hands-on experience to prepare them for a life of crime fighting.
A second path to a police career is through the 48-week extended academy at San Bernardino Valley College, with tuition paid by the student. Financial aid is available as are GI benefits for military veterans.
Each term at the Sheriff's Academy averages 40 trainees,
http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site208/2009/0326/20090326_124431_a1.jpg
Ryan Snape does push-ups with fellow cadets after running three miles on March 19 at the San Bernardino County Sheriff s Academy in Devore. (LaFonzo Carter/Staff Photographer)
although they've accommodated nearly 100 during hiring frenzies. The current recession, however, is causing one of the bleakest turnouts in recent history.
While looking for ways to trim the academy's $8 million annual budget, Sheriff Rod Hoops considered putting basic training on hold and redeploying the seven training officers.
Only two police departments - Fontana and Indio - will be sending trainees to the next class, which starts in April. They will be joined by 10 sheriff's deputy trainees to fill openings created by attrition and 10 people paying their own way.
Except for 17 in a 2004 class, this class of 22 is the smallest in seven years.
"We're down to some of the lower numbers we've ever seen at the academy," said sheriff's Capt. Greg Bottrell, who oversees the academy's operations. "The reality is when times are good and money is flush, the positions get filled. But these are slow, tough economic times."
Although the numbers for the full-time academy have noticeably dropped, the extended academy classes are over capacity.
Extended academy classes average about 30 students, but last year's class and the class scheduled to start May 19 have attracted more than 40.
"It seems like we follow the trends. When there are recessions or dips in the money, enrollment in colleges go up," said extended senior academy coordinator Neil Slawson. "People are out there looking for jobs."
San Bernardino Valley College, which partners with the Sheriff's Department, is in charge of the 48-week extended academy. Students pay $4,500 to attend five-hour sessions on two weeknights and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
Gloria Fisher, director of the Extended Basic Law Enforcement Academy, said she was shocked and heartbroken to have to turn away some who wanted into the course.
The college can usually accommodate 40 students per class, but the last few classes have been too full. The next testing date for the extended academy is April 2.
"We have a population of people who are out of work or they have a job but they're not certain of the future of that job and are looking for another career," Fisher said. "It's a very interesting thing that's happening right now."
Overwhelming interest in the extended academy began around October or November, she said. That is about the same time that economists announced the country was in recession.
Talk of suspending the full-time academy ended once sheriff's officials realized the small number of tactical officers that could be redeployed and that there were still some trainees planning to attend.
And shutting down other programs at the academy didn't make sense because there is too much interest and the advanced training is too valuable, Bottrell said.
About 3,500 law enforcement officers go through advanced officer training there each year and 7,500 or so officers qualify at the firing range.
Besides, smaller classes mean more focused attention for trainees.
"The opportunity to be picked out of the crowd is more frequent when you have a class of 20 rather than a class of 40," Bottrell said. "I'd say they'll get a little more personal attention."
http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_11994392
Reversing course
Academy totals drop; college's up
Stacia Glenn, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/25/2009 01:33:25 PM PDT
Now that few police departments can afford to pay the thousands needed to send new officers to the regional training academy, the number of people willing to pay their own way has skyrocketed.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Basic Training Academy for decades has guided its own recruits and law enforcement trainees from surrounding counties through 23 weeks of rigorous courses and hands-on experience to prepare them for a life of crime fighting.
A second path to a police career is through the 48-week extended academy at San Bernardino Valley College, with tuition paid by the student. Financial aid is available as are GI benefits for military veterans.
Each term at the Sheriff's Academy averages 40 trainees,
http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site208/2009/0326/20090326_124431_a1.jpg
Ryan Snape does push-ups with fellow cadets after running three miles on March 19 at the San Bernardino County Sheriff s Academy in Devore. (LaFonzo Carter/Staff Photographer)
although they've accommodated nearly 100 during hiring frenzies. The current recession, however, is causing one of the bleakest turnouts in recent history.
While looking for ways to trim the academy's $8 million annual budget, Sheriff Rod Hoops considered putting basic training on hold and redeploying the seven training officers.
Only two police departments - Fontana and Indio - will be sending trainees to the next class, which starts in April. They will be joined by 10 sheriff's deputy trainees to fill openings created by attrition and 10 people paying their own way.
Except for 17 in a 2004 class, this class of 22 is the smallest in seven years.
"We're down to some of the lower numbers we've ever seen at the academy," said sheriff's Capt. Greg Bottrell, who oversees the academy's operations. "The reality is when times are good and money is flush, the positions get filled. But these are slow, tough economic times."
Although the numbers for the full-time academy have noticeably dropped, the extended academy classes are over capacity.
Extended academy classes average about 30 students, but last year's class and the class scheduled to start May 19 have attracted more than 40.
"It seems like we follow the trends. When there are recessions or dips in the money, enrollment in colleges go up," said extended senior academy coordinator Neil Slawson. "People are out there looking for jobs."
San Bernardino Valley College, which partners with the Sheriff's Department, is in charge of the 48-week extended academy. Students pay $4,500 to attend five-hour sessions on two weeknights and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
Gloria Fisher, director of the Extended Basic Law Enforcement Academy, said she was shocked and heartbroken to have to turn away some who wanted into the course.
The college can usually accommodate 40 students per class, but the last few classes have been too full. The next testing date for the extended academy is April 2.
"We have a population of people who are out of work or they have a job but they're not certain of the future of that job and are looking for another career," Fisher said. "It's a very interesting thing that's happening right now."
Overwhelming interest in the extended academy began around October or November, she said. That is about the same time that economists announced the country was in recession.
Talk of suspending the full-time academy ended once sheriff's officials realized the small number of tactical officers that could be redeployed and that there were still some trainees planning to attend.
And shutting down other programs at the academy didn't make sense because there is too much interest and the advanced training is too valuable, Bottrell said.
About 3,500 law enforcement officers go through advanced officer training there each year and 7,500 or so officers qualify at the firing range.
Besides, smaller classes mean more focused attention for trainees.
"The opportunity to be picked out of the crowd is more frequent when you have a class of 20 rather than a class of 40," Bottrell said. "I'd say they'll get a little more personal attention."
http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_11994392