Training Center and Recruiting
The Personnel & Training Section is accountable for recruiting , hiring , and training police officers . The Personnel & Recruiting Unit is oftentimes the first interaction a police applicant has with the Arlington Police Department regarding a career in policing . The Personnel & Recruiting Unit is charged with recruiting officers and processing potential employee applications . To achieve these goals , the unit deploys a robust advertisement campaign in police recruiting strategies to keep the application pipeline full . Innovation is the key to keep application rates high . In fact , for the first time ever , the Unit began conducting virtual preliminary interviews with applicants who live out of state . Coupled with a strategic online job search system , Arlington PD saw one of the largest number of applications received in a year .
In 2020 , the Personnel & Recruiting Unit hired two academy classes , which totaled 47 new police officers . Academy Class 58 included 17 new police recruits , with 71 % of Academy Class 58 representing a racial or gender protected class . 22 % of the recruits hired for Academy Class 58 were female . Academy Class 59 included 30 new police recruits , with 76 % of the class representing a racial or gender protected class . 28 % of the
recruits hired for Academy Class 59 were female .
The 5-year average for newly hired officers is 61 % for racial and gender protected classes and 26 % female recruits . The Department consistently seeks to increase diversity as a deliberate and strategic part of the organizational goals .
Once an applicant is hired , they are assigned to the Police Training Center ( Academy ) for the Basic Police Officer Course ( BPOC ). The BPOC course spans 32 weeks , and 1240 hours of instruction . While the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement only mandates 696 hours of BPOC training , the Arlington Police Department chooses to exceed these requirements to produce more prepared and better trained officers to deal with issues facing policing in today ’ s law enforcement environment .
Once a recruit graduates the police academy , they are assigned to the Police Training Officer ( PTO ) program to receive additional practical training wherein they can apply their newly acquired skills . This program consists of 18 weeks of progressively responsible practical instruction as recruit officers work closely with a senior PTO to be able to demonstrate the necessary attributes of an Arlington Police Officer . Upon completion of the PTO program , recruit officers are then assigned to a permanent patrol district .
The Force and Tactics Assessment Unit ( FTAU ) is responsible for cataloging and monitoring all use of force ( UOF ) incidents for trends and training adaptations . FTAU provides advice and training bulletins to the workforce on UOF best practices and industry standards . In 2017 , FTAU was able to facilitate a change in policy regarding conducted energy weapons ( TASERs ). The change required a higher level of assaultive resistance force be demonstrated or utilized by a suspect before a TASER can be deployed . Since 2017 , TASER usage has declined 87.2 %, while officer and suspect injuries have remained low .
The In-Service Unit is responsible for handling all incumbent officer training . TCOLE requires 40 hours of continuing education every 2 years . APD chooses to exceed that and requires 80 hours of continuing education every 2 years . This task falls to the In-Service Unit . These officers monitor statutorily mandated training and help officers plan their educational needs to achieve higher peace officer licensure .
Arlington , Texas Police Department |
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