Texas DPS cuts training by nine weeks in effort to attract more recruits, save money

[CAL]

12:00 AM CST on Thursday, February 11, 2010
The Associated Press
AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety is reducing the length of academy training for troopers by nine weeks in an effort to attract more recruits and save money.

DPS Director Steve McCraw says cutting the trooper training period to 18 weeks has been approved by the agency's governing board.

"We can provide superior training at less cost, in less time, and it's far easier for us to recruit," said McCraw, who says many recruits will not commit to a training course lasting more than seven months.

DPS has nearly 400 vacancies. Much of the training that was removed related to gaining an intermediate police officer rating, which also requires six years of experience, McCraw told the Houston Chronicle.

The training cut is supported by the 3,300-member DPS Officers Association, whose leaders say large Texas police departments offer higher salaries and allow trainees to live at home.

The DPS academy is in Austin, and trainees must live in barracks.

The Associated Press

[DD78]

If they do it well, so much the better. There is no reason you cannot turn out a recruit well prepared to face his FTO in 18 weeks of resident instruction.

None.

Recruit training is not the end of the training process, it is the first of three stages. The median stage being FTO and the last being the probationary period. I can give you YEARS of classroom instruction but it all means dogshit until you hit the road. The classroom just isn't the same.

[Abn5-0]

If people can not commit to the length of the Academy then that tells me they arent commited to being a PO. Im not sure how long other Academies are but it seems crazy to me.

[Feet]

If people can not commit to the length of the Academy then that tells me they arent commited to being a PO. Im not sure how long other Academies are but it seems crazy to me.

Some are from 27-32 weeks. In a resident academy, you can get the job done in 18 weeks. Worst case scenario, do some training on Saturdays like PT or half-days.
I hope they fill their slots.

[DD78]

If people can not commit to the length of the Academy then that tells me they arent commited to being a PO. Im not sure how long other Academies are but it seems crazy to me.

What's MP OSUT? 17 weeks?

Maybe if they're having trouble filling slots it means that people just aren't interested in spending 6 mos. in a resident academy when they can go work as an Oklahoma Trooper in a 17 week academy.

That leaves them two options. Slowly let the Texas Troopers die out through attrition or modify the pipleline.

I can think of many reasons I would balk at a 6 month academy when I know it can be done better and much quicker.

[Abn5-0]

MP OSUT is about 17 weeks. I was just going by what you said about being prepared to face the FTO in 18 weeks. I will admit, after our schooling all we know is basics. Then it depends on the type of unit you go to after. I was lucky because as a young private I was taught by some civilian LEO. I take those lessons learned and pass them on to my Troops. I agree that if it can be done better and in less time then its a good thing.

[DD78]

And that's all the academy is...basic training. All you really need to know coming out of the academy is...

1.) The law and how it's applied.
2.) Enough about investigations so that you don't lose a case by f'ing it up horribly
3.) Officer Safety and DT to the point you aren't an easy mark to get killed.

At least where I work that's how it is. After the academy you still have roughly 12 weeks of working with a senior guy at all times where you really learn the job.