Alabama Law Enforcement Training

Alabama’s law enforcement training is done at many locations throughout the state. From dedicated institutions to various classes at state colleges, law enforcement personnel may find and attend a wide variety of training courses on subjects critically necessary to the performance of their daily duties. These places are also where a person interested in joining an Alabama law enforcement agency could begin seeking needed information.

Education

According to the Code of Alabama, law enforcement academies must train student officers in thirteen basic courses: Introduction to Law Enforcement, General Topics, Equipment, Criminal Investigations, Criminal Procedures and Laws of Evidence, Juvenile Procedures, Courts, Patrol Techniques, Traffic Operations, Offensive and Defensive Tactics, Community/News Media Relations, Firearms Training, and Examinations. This is the minimum training standard as enforced by the Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission.

Alabama Department of Public Safety

The Alabama Department of Public Safety houses six divisions dedicated to statewide law enforcement: Administrative, Alabama Bureau of Investigation, Driver License, Highway Patrol, Protective Services, and Service. The administrative division is responsible for law enforcement training, and does so by offering classes at the Alabama Criminal Justice Training Center. The department's website contains a schedule of training courses available, including the Basic Police Class schedules.

Institute for Criminal Justice Education

The Institute for Criminal Justice Education is a non-profit corporation that provides law enforcement training course development and distributes criminal justice training material to law enforcement agencies throughout Alabama. Many of the courses available are free, and are taught by qualified active state law enforcement personnel at the Alabama Criminal Justice Training Center, Alabama’s largest law enforcement training facility. A sample of courses includes Drug and Gang Related Homicide Investigations, Bomb Threat Response, Basic SWAT Course, Traffic Stops, Jail Management, CPR, and Active Shooter Training.

Standards and Training Commission

The Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission (APOSTC) is a seven-member committee with authority over selecting, recruiting, and training Alabama law enforcement personnel. They are also responsible for establishing law enforcement standards, rules, and regulations in Alabama. To these ends, the APOSTC has officially endorsed law enforcement training at ten institutions in Alabama: Alabama Criminal Justice Training Center, APOSTC Law Enforcement Academy at Tuscaloosa, APOSTC Law Enforcement Academy-Baldwin County, Birmingham Police Academy, Department of Corrections Training Academy, Huntsville Police Academy, Jefferson County Law Enforcement Academy, Mobile Police Academy, Montgomery Police Academy, and Northeast Alabama Law Enforcement Academy.

Canine Officer Training

Alabama law enforcement training isn't strictly a human subject. Northport, Ala., is home to the Alabama Canine Law Enforcement Training Center, Inc, established in 1985. Dogs and their handlers are trained here in explosives, narcotics, and accelerant detection, dog handling, police services and obedience training.

References

• Alabama Department of Public Safety: Administrative Division
• Institute for Criminal Justice Education, Inc. (ICJE): Training Calendar
• Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission: Academy Website Links
• APOSTC Rule Book
• Alabama Canine Law Enforcement Training Center, Inc.

Resources

• PoliceTraining.net: Alabama