From the increasing prevalence of body-worn cameras to ever-evolving regulations covering a multitude of situations, law enforcement officers must adapt constantly to new procedures governing their work.
Customizing and improving dated ways of training programs and mandatory education is critical for agencies striving to adapt to a fast-paced society, especially one in which the tech-savvy Millennial generation is becoming more prominent.
Many agencies are turning to online training to stay current and avoid administrative headaches caused by in-person sessions, such as scheduling conflicts, funding shortages and instructor problems.
Save time and money
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office in the Florida Keys has moved much of its mandatory training online using PowerDMS software that allows users to tap in remotely by computer or smartphone. Previously, Monroe had to pay officers for their time in the classroom, as well as pay the going overtime rate of time and a half for a replacement in the jail. As a result of moving training online, Monroe cut in-person courses down to about four hours a year from 24 hours–dropping overtime costs from $150,000 annually to $63,000. In total, the agency has saved more than $435,000.
The Lacey Police Department in Washington saves roughly $4,800 each year in overtime pay, about 10 percent of the department’s training budget. Lacey PD now uses this money to offer additional training. Instead of just providing the state-mandated minimum of 24 hours of training each year, Lacey is able to offer up to 100 hours of training. This allows the department to invest in the career development of their officers, sending them to specialized training such as crime scene investigation classes.
Customize the training content
When developing online training modules, it’s important for departments to rethink the approach for the virtual environment. That often means making the material more concise and “chunking” out the content so officers can absorb the material at their own pace.
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office instructors took the opportunity to make their mandatory training more user-friendly and interesting. One class featured photos of zombies from The Walking Dead series interspersed throughout a presentation about infectious disease transmission. Another lesson featured The Big Bang Theory show, using Sheldon, et al, in a legal update presentation on working with transient individuals.
Attendees reported that they enjoyed the online lessons more than the old sit-behind-a-desk-and-listen format. More importantly, they typically scored better on tests, exhibiting increased retention of the material.
Increase accountability
How do you know what to look for in online training? The right training software can simplify record-keeping, helping agencies create complete, detailed records for every officer.
Look for a software that automatically logs officer engagement in online courses, tracking training hours and recording the date and time when an officer completes the training. The software should also allow agencies to enter records of training conducted with outside entities. Having all records in one place gives agencies a bird’s-eye view of their training programs and any gaps they need to fill.
Effective training software provides the option of setting automatic reminders, so both administrators and officers know when due dates are approaching. It can track continuing education requirements associated with certain certifications—and display individual records for every officer.
As agencies adapt to new pressures, streamlining their training processes can save time, money and headaches. Most importantly, it equips officers to meet the challenges of their jobs so they can better serve their communities.
About the Author
Sandy Miranda has over 15 years’ professional experience in management, training, professional services, and customer success. She currently holds the position of chief customer officer (CCO) at PowerDMS, a cloud-based policy management software company headquartered in Orlando, FL. In her role, she oversees the support of over 2600 customer organizations and nearly 400,000 end-user, the majority of which are in the public safety industry.
