Resident Services

Resident Services / Police Services

Public Safety Involves Continuous Training and Education

Police Chief Column
By Police Chief Brian Quinn
As published in the SNP/Arlington News

The old adage “don’t run before you can walk” is extremely relevant in the case of a career in law enforcement. The responsibilities that come with the uniform are significant, and it’s of prime importance that our safety personnel learn the basics of law enforcement before they begin their work out in the community.

As a result, our selection process and subsequent training program is extensive. In fact, when you sign on for a career as a police officer, you are also signing on for a career of continuous training and education.

For newly hired officers, the process begins immediately, with 15 weeks of training at the Ohio State Patrol Training Academy. During this time, they are given a broad-based, hands-on introduction to all manner of law enforcement principles and practices.

Once they arrive fulltime at the Upper Arlington Police Division, the training continues for another week or two, so that we can familiarize them with our own operations and expectations. They undergo additional training in areas such as firearms, use of force and self defense, and are introduced to our administrative operations, equipment and reporting procedures.

By this point, they are effectively walking. Next comes the running lesson.

They are assigned to fully trained field officers and spend the next three months working side-by-side with them, to witness first-hand and begin practicing law enforcement in the field under the guidance of an experienced colleague. During this time, they also continue additional practice and educational sessions with our Training Section officers.

Approximately six months from an officer’s official hire date, he or she can effectively run and is now ready to hit the streets solo. However, for the remainder of the first year’s employment, an officer remains on probation, with bi-monthly evaluations and continued education in additional areas such radar and laser training, and advanced detention and apprehension of drunk drivers.

Once officers have successfully completed their probation, they continue to receive routine quarterly refresher courses from our Training Section. And every two years they must undergo additional training in areas such as ethics, diversity training, and emergency preparedness. Likewise, as staff members begin to work their way through the ranks of the division, taking on supervisory roles, they begin to undergo more advanced levels of training in similar areas, in addition to leadership and management training.

Additionally, each year we must comply with federal and state mandated courses, such as firearms, homeland security, victims of crime guidelines, and a host of others. New for 2007 is the state requirement that every officer receive five hours training on crime victims, and the federal government requirement for National Incident Management System training for officers and supervisors.

From the start of my police career at Upper Arlington and including my current position today as Police Chief, I can personally say the routine training, ongoing education and opportunities for taking additional seminars over the years has been invaluable. The continued attention to maintaining my law enforcement skills and expanding my overall knowledge has been paramount as my role has changed over the years, moving further from daily in-the-field law enforcement activities. And I can vouch first-hand for its importance to the men and women in my division, ensuring their ability to stay safe and make good decisions when out protecting the community.

Police Division
City of Upper Arlington
3600 Tremont Road
Upper Arlington, OH 43221
Phone: 614-583-5150
www.ua-ohio.net