International Police Training Journal. March 2013. Pp3-7
I selected this article because the development of simulation technology as an instructional tool has advanced significantly in police training across the world.
Article summary
This International police training journal examines whether pistol shooting skills can be acquired effectively in a simulated environment as in live-fire. Theories were tested on new cadets, and it was concluded to be very valuable for future firearms training. Armstrong and Clarke explored the relationship between litigation and training. As litigation increasingly becomes a reality for many police agencies, these agencies examine how training can help in reducing civil litigation risk and its proactive role in broader risk mitigation.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF), Police Psychological Services Division came up with a discussion of how they developed Leadership Competency Framework (LCF). Also, it shows how it was translated into leadership training and leadership development activities. Also, this journal discusses a multi-dimensional teaching method case study from China, it has been implemented for a long time in the criminal investigation police Cadet training course.
Relationship to different training programs
There are many tools at the disposal of law enforcement officers, whether OC-spray, flashlight, pistol or their verbal communication skills. While all these tools are the necessities of any police officer, they are not given to them until formalized and extensive training on when and how to use each specific tool. Technological advances over time have improved the effectiveness of these tools while over time some tools have been subtle. The major advancement in police training is the development of simulation technology as an instrumental tool. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in an effort to determine simulation efficiency. They conducted a series of studies designed to measure how law enforcement officers can use simulated firearms range environment as a training tool (INTERPOL 2013).
The results provided conclusive evidence training in how to use a pistol can be completed in a simulated range environment. Skills can be acquired without using live-fire by using only dry-fire laser-based pistols. It brings new ideas that should be considered when training law enforcement officers, this is because the increased number of trigger pulls for officers trained in simulated range environment strengthened their muscle memory. Also, training in dry-fire environment will allow the instructors and trainees to focus on the skills instead of worrying about associated psychological implications.
Analysis
It is very clear that this technology has been proven to be a reliable and safe way to train cadets how to acquire pistol shooting skills. Lack of scientific evidence led to this research project aimed at providing information that is defendable if and when the technology was integrated into training program for cadets. The results were strengthened further when researcher in the United States at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centre (FLETC), replicated the experiment and found similar results. Following the studies discussed in this paper, it revealed that an officer can acquire all pistol skills without using live-fire by using only dry-fire pistols, this is because skills are transferred to the real world setting. The skills are maintained better compared to live-fire trained peers (INTERPOL 2013).
According to Scott, inadequate training can impact negatively on the safety of the officer, police resources, delivery of services and police Executives to lead their agencies. Therefore, training cannot be considered a simple band-aid applied as needed or taken for granted. Training must be woven into the organizations operational model and garner same strategic attention as any other policing facet. George Kelling asserts that, so as to achieve a meaningful impact on actions and attitudes of officers needs designing training courses that keep the focus on police substantive work content. Training should be able to assist in finding and delineating the means of conducting police work legally, morally, effectively and skillfully.
Cited work
INTERPOL. International police training journal 2013. 7th October, 2014 <http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=12&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCQQFjABOAo&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.interpol.int%2FMedia%2FFiles%2FINTERPOL-Expertise%2FTraining%2FInternational-Police-Training-Journal-Issue-5%2C-March-2013&ei=5fUzVM32D-Td7Qay7YDwBw&usg=AFQjCNHrjvjg8Y8B7vRq3msMc5DAFZ8o5w&sig2=2VXa6gU7zn7v6RLrD-AG-w&bvm=bv.76943099,d.ZGU>
