Module 6 - five weeks in the force. Probationers deal with even more complex issues, the aim being to reach a stage where they are considered suitably qualified to undertake independent patrol.

Module 7 - one week in the force. This is the assessment module, where the experience gained from all previous modules is examined and a decision made as to whether the probationer is suitable to patrol on his or her own.

During the post-foundation phase officers are given a minimum of 30 days formal training. This training consists of six phases, each with a case study. There is also provision for local needs to be dealt with in each phase. The actual organization of each phase is determined by the local force within the established national criteria.

Ex. 7. Read and translate the text:

SELECTION AND TRAINING OF THE POLICE IN THE USA

Standards for police officers vary across the United States, but certain considerations appear to be important in most jurisdictions. Generally speaking, potential police officers must meet some or all of the following criteria.

1.Age: minimum age is typically nineteen to twenty-one at the time of first employment.

2.Height and weight in proportion to each other: to test for body fat composition.

3.Education: generally a high school diploma or general education diploma, but more departments now require some college.

4.Agility test: to test physical capabilities required by the job.

5.Written test: to measure aptitude and intelligence.

6.Psychological exam: to determine mental fitness for the job; may be required only after an offer of a job has been made.

7.Medical exam: to ensure that no disabilities that might prevent the applicant from performing the essential functions of the job exist at the time of initial employment; may be required only after an offer of a job has been made.

8.Polygraph exam: to determine honesty.

9.Background investigation: to ensure the character of applicants.

10.Oral interview: to determine applicants’ reactions to job-related issues.

Many of the traditional requirements for becoming a police officer

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have come under attack in recent years. Realistically, a number of these requirements have been applied subjectively with the effect (if not the intent) of excluding females and minorities from police work. Height might exclude certain applicants but if those responsible for hiring felt that a certain individual would make a good police officer, the height requirement could be manipulated. As another example of subjectivity, agility tests at one time were set up in such a way to routinely exclude women, but these tests have since been shown to have little or no relationship to activities performed by police officer. Today, tests of physical agility must be based on job task analyses.

Psychological exams are generally considered to be unreliable. Because no one knows what the characteristics of an ideal police officer are, such testing seems highly questionable. Still, liability issues related to negligent hiring lead most police agencies to continue to require psychological exams.

Written tests vary tremendously in content and form. Some are job related or situation specific, whereas others are general aptitude or intelligence tests. The validity of most of these tests in terms of predicting successful performance as a police officer is yet to be established.

Similarly, the oral board interview is extremely subjective. Although race, gender, dress, and so on are formally excluded from the criteria to be considered by the board in most jurisdictions, but these variables are frequently subjects of discussion among board members and undoubtedly influence the ratings received by applicants.

Applicants who successfully meet the requirements outlined above and are selected for police work generally go to a training institute or academy where they receive training in a variety of police subjects, including self-defense, weapons, first aid, criminal law, and human relations. Successful completion of a training program leads to the status of probationary officer, a status that normally lasts from six months to a year. During the probationary period, the new officer receives on-the-job training from senior officers and supervisors. If the recruit successfully completes the probationary period, he or she becomes a full-fledged police officer.

So in an attempt to meet public expectations, police selection and training procedures were developed and modified. Recruits are expected to be mentally and physically fit, of reasonably good character, and able to fit into the police subculture.

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