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POLICE TRAINING
Officer James Nemphos
271-5560
A great deal of time, effort and money is committed to every person who is hired as a police officer. Not only is training required on how to be a police officer, but also there is a large amount of training required to stay a certified police officer. The responsibilities of the Cheshire Police Department training officers include providing updates on constantly changing legal issues, researching new police equipment, officer safety tactics, proper response to highly stressful situations and the ability to make sound decisions to peacefully resolving those stressful situations. Failure to properly train police officers can lead to poor decisions by officers and may result in civil law suits, which directly affect our entire community. The lack of realistic training can also lead to officers being hurt or killed when responding to crimes of violence, dealing with individuals who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol and subjects who pose a threat to the public.
Connecticut Police Academy (POST)
All officers hired by the Cheshire Police Department enter the CT Police Academy as recruits and they must complete a 22-week, 650-hour basic training program. The recruits live at the police academy in Meriden from Monday morning to Friday evening. The training at the academy includes an introduction to law enforcement, police and the law, practical police skills, human relations, criminal investigations and patrol procedures. There are several physical assessment requirements that the recruits must meet prior to entering and graduating from the academy. After successful completion of the basic training program the officers face a great deal of additional training to the “basics” before they can become a certified member of the Cheshire Police Department.
Field Training and Evaluation (FTO) Program
Once an officer graduates the academy, he/she comes back to the department and begins a 400-hour/10 week (minimum) Field Training And Evaluation Program. The program, titled: The San Jose Police Model was developed in San Jose California's a way to help standardize police training. It is used by all Connecticut Police Departments as well as most other states. While in the program, the Probationary Officer is paired with a specially trained Field Training Officer (F.T.O.) who instructs the officer on the day-to-day operation of the department including rules, regulations, policies, procedures and goals of the department.
LT. James Fasano heads the F.T.O. program. Currently, Officers Brian Schechter, Sean Patterson, Steven Jester, Jeff Sutherland, Robert Anderson, Fred Jortner and Donald Miller are the primary Field Training Officers. These officers are not only given the responsibility of properly training the new officers and documenting their daily performance, but they are also responsible for handling their normal caseload. Each day the probationary officer is trained and evaluated by the F.T.O in 31 different categories. This documentation provides both the probationary officer and the department with information about how the officer is progressing through the program. If an officer fails to perform at an acceptable level in each of the categories, he/she could face termination. Once the probationary police officer successfully completes the F.T.O. program they are eligible for certification from the CT Police Academy.
Review Training Period
Officer certification is valid for a period of three years. During this three-year period the officer is required to complete a minimum of 60 hours of training in certain subject areas. The subject areas include the criminal justice system, police and the law, practical skills, human relations, criminal investigations, patrol procedures, supervision, management and executive. The department participates in the Waterbury Regional Training Academy hosted by Waterbury Police Department and training at South Central Criminal Justice Administration to help fill most of the training requirements. This three year training cycle continues throughout an officer’s career. All police officers from the Chief of Police to the newest patrolman are required to complete the same training requirements to maintain certification.
In House Training
Yearly, a great deal of time is spent on training officers at skills needed to perform the job as a police officer. Some of these skills such as first aid, handcuffing, motor vehicle stop tactics and DUI enforcement could be used frequently. Some of these skills such as defensive tactics, baton techniques, use of force and firearms could be used infrequently or not at all in an officer’s entire career. It is of the utmost importance that all officers have the necessary skills and training to effectively deal with potential life and death situations that occur very rapidly. Many high risk situations only give officers a few seconds to react but will ultimately be analyzed fraction of a second by fraction of a second. Many officers have taken on additional responsibilities and have become certified instructors for the department. In house training includes firearms, PR-24 baton, TASER, chemical sprays (pepper spray), handcuffing, use of force, computer systems, dealing with juveniles, shooting decisions, first aid, evidence, Alzheimer’s disease, prisoner incarceration, hazardous materials, officer survival, pursuits and numerous other topic areas. Current state certified instructors include LT. Joseph Popovich, Sgt. Thomas Bobok, Officer Damian Daly, Officer Mark Ecke, Detective William Fountain, Officer Philip Giampietro, Officer James Nemphos, Officer Ken Novi and Officer Brian Pichnarcik. The Cheshire Police Department’s administration has been committed to providing the officers of the department with the best training and equipment available to safely serve the community and for the protection of the personnel doing the job.
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