What Kind of Training Does a Police Officer Have to Have to Patrol Rural Areas?

Officers in rural areas may go through horse-mounted training.

No matter where they serve, police officers do much more than chase and capture criminals. In rural areas especially, the tools for officers to thrive and survive may include K-9s and horses instead of patrol cars and motorcycles.

K-9 training

In many states, K-9s have become an essential part of tracking and evidence recovery for police officers. Basic Tracking Training is essential in large, rural areas for police, including teaching the dog to search for ground scents and to track in a slow, deliberate manner.

Mounted Police Training

The Mounted Police Training Academy teaches everything from equine psychology and mounted firearms training to advanced civil disturbance techniques. This creates a better partnership for both the rider and the horse while patrolling rural areas.

Patrol Rifle Gunfight Training

According to STRIKE Tactical Solutions, the patrol rifle is a mandatory piece of equipment for officers who patrol rural areas. This is because officers may contend with long distance shooting, tracking criminals through wooded areas and the lack of close proximity to back-up.

Expert Insight

The Rural Policing Institute (RPI) has identified other areas where officers should receive training. These include domestic violence, first-responder issues, anti-terrorism and narcotics, among other topics. Workshops are available through RPI and can be scheduled through a program specialist.

References

• United States Police Canine Association: Police Tracking in Rural Areas
• Mounted Police Training Academy: Course Information
• STRIKE Tactical Solutions: Police Patrol Rifle Gunfight Training
• Rural Policing Institute: Rural Policing Training Workshops

Resources

• National Institute of Justice: Rural Crime and Rural Policing