The document discusses the importance of police training and its effect on communities. It argues that police training is underfunded in many states like Massachusetts, with less money spent per officer on training compared to other states. Less training can negatively impact police interactions with the public and their ability to de-escalate situations, particularly in dealing with mentally ill individuals. The document also examines studies that found officers with more education were less likely to use force and that training may help reduce racial biases. Overall, the document advocates for increased funding and support for police training to improve police services and community relations.

1. Running head: POLICE TRAINING 1
THE IMPORTANCE OF POLICE TRAINING AND IT’S AFFECT ON COMMUNITIES
Michael Daniels
Anna Maria College
Capstone MPA 610
Professor Peter Cusolito
April 25, 2015

2. POLICE TRAINING 2
ABSTRACT
In any organization it is important to understand the value of training and education. This
statement is especially true for police organizations. Unlike the private sector, training and
education is directly correlated with public perception and the well-being of the community. In
fact, very few professions have the exposure and far reaching impact that police organizations
do. The goal of this assignment is to understand how Police training impact’s the community and
public perception.
Keywords: Police, Training, Bias, Funding, Budget

3. POLICE TRAINING 3
My approach to addressing this topic was inspired by the recent deaths of Michael Brown
and Eric Garner at the hands of police officers. Since the deaths of these two unarmed black
males, civil rights groups have come forward to condemn police for use of excessive force.
Experts believe Officers in both cases acted appropriately and found them innocent of any
wrongdoing. During my research there were few articles that went beyond race. This is further
exacerbated by the fact media and public perception has made it difficult to look beyond issues
of race and cultural differences. Unless communities break free from believing that race is the
only issue, the division between the community and their protectors will widen.
While Police Officers deal with people from all walks of life, they deal with individuals
who are far more likely to have regular bouts with the police than the average citizen. For
example, Police are frequently called to scenes involving individuals who are mentally ill.
Officers who don’t recognize the possibility of mental illness may miss the opportunity to
resolve issues peacefully and to redirect care to medical professionals. Poorly trained and
uneducated Police Officers place an unnecessary burden on the Criminal Justice system and
destroys community trust which makes policing difficult.
Funding and Crime
When looking at police training it’s important to look at how police training is funded.
Funds for training in the private sector are accessible to those that seek it. In the private sector it
is understood that educated and well trained personnel translates into efficiency and efficiency
creates revenue. Conversely, public sector organizations including those in law enforcement do
not generate revenue. As a result training and education are considered secondary to performing
basic police function and is considered more of a luxury than a tool to help the community. This

4. POLICE TRAINING 4
mentality is reflected in the amount of funds allocated for police training. In most communities
funding for law enforcement represents a small portion of funds allocated through taxes for states
and municipalities yet the technical expertise and demands we have of our police continue to
grow.
Massachusetts is a prime example of how some states have failed to secure funding for
Law Enforcement. According to Massbudget.org, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts cut state
funding for the Municipal Police Training Committee by 58% from $3,755,364 in FY08 to
$1,576,331 FY09. The Municipal Police Training Committee is responsible for providing in-
service training to all Police Officers within the Commonwealth. Due to massive cuts to the
training budget, the MPTC, at one time, was only able to provide basic recruit training.
Specialized courses, in-service training, legal updates, CPR and first aid were no longer being
provided and left each municipality to absorb the costs for training.
In 2008, the Commonwealth released a commission report indicating the State of
Massachusetts consistently underfunds training for Police Officers. “A 2008 state-by-state
comparison of police funding indicates that Massachusetts pays substantially less in state funds
than other states to train its municipal police officers. In 2008, Massachusetts had a budget of
$2,911,398 to train 15,568 police officers; this translates to $187 spent on training for each
officer.” (Timilty & Costello, 2010).

5. POLICE TRAINING 5
State Total Budget # Officers Per Officer $
Massachusetts $2,911,398 15,568 $187
Arizona $7,700,000 14,500 $531
South Carolina $10,541,358 14,000 $752
Kentucky $17,800,000 15,000 $1,186
Vermont $2,700,000 1,770 $1,525
New Hampshire $3,929,211 4,211 $933
Connecticut $3,156,533 6,250 $505
Table 1. Massachusetts Police Training vs. Other States (Timilty & Costello, 2010)
In Table 1 the state of Kentucky had roughly the same amount of Officers yet they spent
significantly more on training at $1,186 per officer. Kentucky’s crime rate is significantly lower
in the categories of violent crime and property crime per 100,000 people. The FBI’s Uniform
Crime Report Database shows that in 2008 violent crime in Massachusetts was 463.8 while
Kentucky was 297.2.
From a population standpoint both Arizona and Massachusetts are comparable. As of
2014, Arizona has a population of approximately 6,731,000 while Massachusetts has slightly
more people with a count of 6,745,000. Massachusetts has approximately 1000 more Police
officers than Arizona and is saturated with police presence within a 10,555 square mile area.
Arizona’s Officers are responsible for covering 113,998 square miles. When you compare the
crime in both states and take into account urban sprawl you realize Massachusetts violent crime
for 2012 per capita was 405.5 vs. Arizona’s index of 428.9. When considering the geographic
location, size and population of these two states Massachusetts’ crime rate should be
significantly less.

6. POLICE TRAINING 6
Importance of the Selection Process
Stephen M. Ziman, Professor of Criminal Justice at Aurora University states that in order
for Police Officers to police affectively they must strive for self-improvement by educating
themselves and forming community partnerships. “Law enforcement agencies need to evolve and
progress. They have a responsibility to their officers and the citizens they serve. Departments
need to instill reciprocal empathy, compassion, and partnership between police and the
community. Law enforcement agencies dedicated to this relationship find the time and energy to
improve. Now is the time for officers to change and progress both personally and professionally.
This is what it means to mature and develop a sense of self. Law enforcement officers and
agencies always can improve.” (Ziman, 2012).
Policing is an ever changing field that evolves with society, as such, it is important that
police organizations recognize that continuing education and training programs are crucial to
meeting the needs of the community. As crimes become more complex, the officers charged with
enforcing our laws must be open to new and constantly evolving policing philosophies. In 1994
Sgt. James Krieble of the Redmond Police Department in Washington wrote an article stressing
the importance of hiring interviews, field training curriculum, and officer evaluations to identify
officers that can embrace community oriented philosophies.
During the interview process Krieble suggests that “What would you do...” questions do
not properly measure a candidate’s performance potential. Krieble indicates it’s better to ask
questions like “Describe a problem that existed within your department or community that
prompted you to develop solutions and take steps necessary to implement those solutions.

7. POLICE TRAINING 7
Describe the net result of your efforts.” The reasoning behind this approach is that “anything said
during the hiring interview can be validated in a subsequent background check.” (Krieble, 1994).
After the hiring process the candidate must complete a 12 week training program before
assignment to a district. The officer’s supervisors continue to evaluate officer progress by
evaluating his ability to analyze and resolve problems along with the ability to communicate
effectively with the community. This community based approach is an example of how selecting
an Officer who can embrace problem solving can be utilized in a community that has negative
opinions of their police.
Community Perceptions and Expectations
The ability to deprive an individual of his freedom is unique to those within this
profession. The authority Police Officers have is backed by a system of courts and processes
unlike any other in the world. Because of this, society carries a deep rooted resentment for those
who carry and exercise this authority without careful consideration. While most professions
require training, the correlation between police training and how it effects the community is an
important topic and must be considered a high priority when local and state governments review
their budgets.
Perceptions of police organizations, particularly in urban areas receive scathing reviews
when compared to their counterparts in white suburbia. Police Departments in predominantly
black areas are under constant media scrutiny while Officers in white suburban areas enjoy a less
stressful environment. “Research indicates that the dynamics of a civil disorder may not be as
complex as many believe. Police in mainstream America often deal with situations that lead to

8. POLICE TRAINING 8
miscommunication and, inadvertently, tragic consequences if the police are not trained to
recognize and understand citizen reactions based on differing cultural norms.” (Coderoni, 2002)
Due to the aforementioned situations, police need to understand changes in the community.
Careers in Law Enforcement are unique because barriers to entry in the field are difficult and
public expectations are unfair. Police applicants undergo a myriad of exams to determine
physical fitness, intelligence, and mental stability. Initial public perception of police
organizations vary region to region but those perceptions are based on how well Police
organizations tackle the problems within the areas they Police. Effective policing, like anything
else requires hiring Officers who are open-minded to training, education, and innovation.
Although law enforcement interacts with a small portion of the population, those
interactions can cast a positive or negative light on the profession within seconds. While training
and education isn’t worn on the outside of an Officer’s uniform it affects the way they think, feel
and how they perform their duties. Officers typically find themselves in situations where they
don’t know the people they are trying to help. For example, in some instances Officers deal with
people who are mentally ill and may need to be handled differently. While we expect the Police
to handle every scenario effectively this task can be difficult without proper training. Failure to
recognize mental illness and provide proper resources could escalate a situation and cause
unnecessary sanctions through courts.
Conversely, well trained Officers are prepared to act and are in tune with the needs of the
community. Educated and trained officers are more likely to recognize situations that require
patience and an alternative approach and are far more likely to resolve situations effectively.
Education and training provide officers with alternative means to exercise their authority. The

9. POLICE TRAINING 9
way police utilize their authority and power is directly linked to public perception of law
enforcement and the bonds they form with their communities.
A study conducted by Professor Anthony Braga of Rutgers University found that Officers
who exercised their authority differently formed better relations with the community. Braga
identified four areas that were important to citizens when developing trust between the police
and the community. “First, citizens need to have meaningful participation in interactions.
Importantly, citizens must have the ability to explain situations and communicate with the police.
Second, citizens need to feel that the police officers were neutral in their assessments of
situations by using objective indicators to make decisions rather than personal views. Third,
citizens must feel that they were treated with respect and dignity by the police during
interactions. Fourth, police officers need to inspire trust in the citizenry. If people believe
authorities care about their well-being and are considerate of their needs and concerns, they view
procedures as fairer. Police can encourage the public to view them as trustworthy by explaining
their decisions and accounting for their conduct.” (Braga & Winship, 2014)
Training and Education Makes a Difference
“A firm educational foundation not only enhances officers' general knowledge, but it also
helps strengthen the problem-solving skills that have become integral to contemporary policing.”
(Varricchio, 1998). Continuing education for police officers helps to keep Officers up to date
with current trends and lends credibility to the organization’s commitment to excellence and
professionalism. “Basic recruit, in-service, and other specialized training officers receive cannot
compete with a college degree from an accredited institution. Prospective employers outside law
enforcement generally view police training as instruction in job-related concepts, whereas they

10. POLICE TRAINING 10
view higher education as focusing on a deeper understanding and discussion of concepts from a
more historical, theoretical, and philosophical level. Interviewers perceive the educated job
candidate as one who can converse on a variety of topics beyond the often-narrow confines of an
occupation.” (Varricchio, 1998).
The effect of training and education on police officers is especially important because it
helps officers to override natural inclinations, biases, or reservations they encounter while in the
performance of their duty. Police Officers, like the people they serve, are human beings filled
with emotion and biases that are learned from environments beyond their control. The
expectation that Police Officers should be able to hold these biases in check without affect is
unrealistic. This expectation and lack of understanding creates a disconnect between the
community and police, especially in locations where police training is lacking.
To overcome these natural inclinations training is important. Training goes hand in hand
with formal education and how they affect policing. The importance of education and training
were highlighted in two studies I reviewed. The first study was conducted by Dr. Jason Rydberg
and Dr. William Terrill. Rydberg and Terrill found a significant correlation between an Officer’s
formal education and the decision to use force vs. their less educated counterpart. Rydberg and
Terrill found that “56% of the encounters involving officers with some college or a 4-year degree
resorted to force, whereas nearly 68% of encounters involving officers with no college
experience used force.” (Rydberg & Terrill, 2010). Other parts of the study indicate that
educated Officers make more arrests than their uneducated counterparts.

11. POLICE TRAINING 11
Table 2. Rydberg & Terrill Education vs Use of Force
The data observed in both instances suggests Police Officers who are educated are
inclined to pursue more training opportunities making them better equipped to handle situations
and therefore more effective in fighting crime. In my analysis of the Rydberg & Terrill study I
found Officers who are better educated make more arrests and use less force. When you take
both results into consideration it would stand to reason that from the onset, Officers who are
educated and well trained are less likely to make mistakes and more likely to engage the needs of
the community.
The second part of my analysis looks at how education and training affects public
relations and focuses on the perceived prejudices that law enforcement has against minorities.
While the Commonwealth of Massachusetts appears to be deficient in providing their officers
with training, when you look at policing at a national level, questions regarding the lack of racial
sensitivity training have begun to surface; especially for those working in areas predominantly
56%
68%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
College No College
Education vs. Use of Force

12. POLICE TRAINING 12
occupied by minorities. Anyone who pays attention to current events will see media outlets are a
hotbed of negativity for police organizations
When accusations of police tactics and training come under question by the media, there
is an undertone of racism that’s highlighted along with it. Police Officers come in all ages,
shapes, sizes, attitudes and motivations. While most would agree they should be held to a higher
standard, is it really possible to expect more from our public servants than we do of ourselves, is
this expectation fair? Does police training and education influence or reduce biases police have?
Recent events involving police shootings and violence against young black Americans
have created a frenzy. While some civil rights groups and politicians are quick to place the blame
on the Officers the following questions still remain. Have we done enough to train and educate
our police? Is what we’re doing enough? One study paints an interesting picture regarding police
bias and training. Bernd Wittenbrink and Joshua Correll both Professors of Psychology at the
University of Chicago along with professors Bernadette Park, Charles Judd & Melody Sadler
from the University of Colorado and Tracie Keesee from the University of Denver conducted a
study examining racial bias and a Police Officers decision to shoot. (Correll, et al., 2007)
The study involved 124 Police Officers from Denver Police Department approximately
84% of the participants were white male officers who worked patrol. A second sample of 113
Police Officers from all over the country attending a seminar in Las Vegas participated. Finally,
127 civilians were selected. This sample was more diverse in the fact that it included a mixture
of males and females with different ethnic backgrounds including whites, hispanics, and blacks.
The subjects were selected at various RMV locations in Denver.

13. POLICE TRAINING 13
After selecting the test subjects, the researchers attempted to find how Police Officer bias
was affected by the community they worked in, and if so were the biases similar to that of the
community. The researchers used a video game device that showed photos of potentially armed
suspects. The suspects in the simulation were either black or white set against urban and rural
simulated environments. Each suspect randomly presented one object in their hand. The objects
were either a cell phone, a large wallet, a can, or one of four types of handguns. The subjects
participating in the study had to quickly assess the situation as either a shoot or don’t shoot
scenario after just seconds of viewing. Once the situation had been assessed, the test subjects
were told to press the appropriate shoot or don’t shoot button. I found this study to be extremely
relevant to the public’s perception of law enforcement given the current accusations of racial
bias.
The results of Correll’s study showed that people in the community had tremendous bias
against blacks in their decision to shoot or don’t shoot. Community members decided to shoot
armed black subjects much quicker than white subjects, and occasionally shooting unarmed
black subjects regardless of the environmental backdrop. Conversely, Police Officers from
Denver and on the national level were far quicker across the board in their decision to shoot or
don’t shoot. Police Officers were quicker in deciding to shoot blacks than whites but they did not
err in their judgement to shoot an unarmed vs. armed subject. In summary, Police Officers were
quicker to react accurately to an unarmed vs. armed subject regardless of race or environment.
Correll’s study demonstrates that community members had the same biases as police but police
officers were quicker to react accurately even after taking into account environmental queues.
When taking both studies into account, it is clear training and education is important to
the function of a police officer. In order for a medical student to become a surgeon, his success

14. POLICE TRAINING 14
depends largely on his knowledge of a specific area in which he chooses to focus. His ability to
diagnose a problem is as important as his experience in performing the same surgery day in and
day out. In most situations a surgeon’s bedside manner is less important than his skill at
performing surgery. On the flipside, police officers are required to diagnose potentially deadly
situations within seconds while being subjected to accusations of excessive force and racism
further exacerbated by the media.
To bridge the gap between police and community, training needs to be focused on
forming community partnerships. Community partnerships will allow police organizations to
tailor their policing methods relative to community feedback. Dr. Helen Buss Mitchell Ph.D.
from Howard Community College in Maryland highlighted an interesting approach to
community partnerships and training in a 1994 article. The commanding officers from Howard
County Police Department recorded calls for service and presented them as scenarios to citizens
within the community. Their intent was to expose the community members to scenarios an
officer was likely to experience during a shift. After the citizens reviewed the scenarios they had
to comment on how they thought officers handled the situation. The officers called upon
community members of different ethnicities, occupations, ages, and genders to sit on a review
panel. The second group involved in the panel consisted strictly of police officers. The officers
were allowed to critique the same recorded scenarios the citizens observed.
This unique opportunity revealed telling information with regard to how police and the
expectations from the community are disconnected. “What the department found refreshing was
the empathy expressed by the citizen panel. One officer said the panel was more understanding
and more forgiving toward the conduct of the officers than either the training staff or the Chief.
On the other hand, there were incidents in which members of the citizen panel criticized or read

15. POLICE TRAINING 15
more into an officer’s action than most in-service participants were willing to grant.” (Mitchell,
1992). Howard County Police Department used this non-traditional training opportunity to help
them understand the expectations of the community.
Possible Solutions
While it’s unfortunate that misinterpreted events draw attention to the police profession,
steps need to be taken to address the shortfall in funds for training. The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts has already taken action to help increase funding by adding a $5.00 surcharge to
traffic citations to help subsidize the Municipal Police Training Committee budget.
At the local level, police organizations need to understand the needs of their community.
By understanding the needs of the community the department can plan and budget accordingly to
address those needs. Currently most police organizations utilize incremental based budgeting
solutions to save time when submitting funding requests. A responsible approach is to utilize
zero based budgeting. Zero based budgeting allows departments to critically evaluate whether
previously funded items are needed. Essentially, zero based budgeting forces organizations to
start from a $0 balance and justify every expenditure according to priority. If the expenditure for
a particular item isn’t needed then that money is set aside for priority items. For example, a
department with a motorcycle unit in a rural area may decide not to fund the unit in favor of drug
training to address a recent drug problem in the community.
In the private sector, individuals starting their own business are expected to develop a
business plan before seeking funding from a bank. They must justify each expenditure and set
benchmarks for different points in time in order for the business to be considered worthy of
funding. Due to the fact police organizations receive funding from the public, they must take a

16. POLICE TRAINING 16
more inclusive approach when seeking additional funds. This may include a strategic planning
process that brings stakeholders in from the community to champion the cause for funding.
Strategic planning involves developing a mission statement centered on the goals the
organization is trying to accomplish. Engaging stakeholder groups accomplishes two tasks; first
it allows the community to help shape the type of police organization it wants, and second, it
gives the organization the opportunity to be seen in a positive light.
Strategic planning would involve holding a public forum to exchange ideas with
stakeholder groups. The results of the exchange would allow committees within the group to
explore alternative methods for funding. Private organizations could be tapped as a resource if
the goals of the private entity coincide with the police mission. For example, banks and
insurance companies offer reduced specialized training to police interested in detecting fraud and
money laundering activities. Other funding avenues could be realized through networks
established by stakeholders.
In addition to involving stakeholder groups, police organizations could pool resources
and use regional law enforcement councils to provide training. Currently, Massachusetts uses
law enforcement councils to provide communities with resources that would otherwise be
unavailable due to lack of manpower and funding. These councils could also be utilized to
incorporate training.
CONCLUSION
The role of the police officer has evolved over time. As our communities continue to face
new challenges, our police forces must be prepared to meet those challenges. Gone are the days
when police recruitment consisted of giving a war veteran a gun, badge and police car to patrol

17. POLICE TRAINING 17
our streets. As crime continues to evolve, we must be vigilant in recruiting police officers that
are well trained and well educated. Training and education allows officers to solve problems
creatively and engage the community without reservation. Police training must not be limited to
recruit academies; but instead considered as an important and necessary part of evolving and
innovating along with the community. Training and education has substantial effects on the
police and their relationships with the community. At a time when the police are scrutinized
more than ever we must be eager to provide them with the tools and support needed to do their
jobs effectively.

18. POLICE TRAINING 18
REFERENCES
Correll, J., Wittenbrink, B., Keesee, T., Sadler, M. S., Judd, C. M., & Park, B. (2007). Across
The Thin Blue Line: Police Officers and Racial Bias in the Decision to Shoot. Journal of
Personality and Social Psychology, 92. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.92.6.1006
Krieble, J. H. (1994). Selection, Training, and Evaluation Ensure Success. The Police Chief, 26-
29.
Mitchell, H. B. (1992). Police/Community Relations: A Non-Traditional Training Approach.
Police Chief, 58-61.
Timilty, J. E., & Costello, M. A. (2010). Special Commission on Massachusetts Police Training.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved from
http://muckrock.s3.amazonaws.com/foia_documents/Statewide_Police_Training_Report_
-_Final.pdf
Varricchio, D. (1998). Continuing education: expanding opportunities for officers. The FBI Law
Enforcement Bulletin, 10.
Ziman, S. M. (2012). Redefining Police Power. The FBI law Enforcement Bulletin, 8.