Pre-Employment Police Basic Training

HEGIS: 5505

SUNY CODE: 2721

The Criminal Justice Pre-Employment Police Basic Training Certificate is the first of the two phase program that leads to a police officer obtaining a certificate of completion for a course equivalent to the Basic Course for Police Officers in New York State. This first phase of Pre-Employment may be presented to both civilians and sworn police officers. It is an alternative to the conventional manner of conducting the Basic Course for Police Officers.

This course will prepare students to begin preparation for a career as a police officer prior to being hired by a law enforcement agency. As a further benefit, the program provides law enforcement agencies and municipalities with a diverse pool of trained police officer candidates.

Course work phase 1 includes, but is not limited to the various laws and procedures required of a police officer, ethics, basic criminal investigations, and physical fitness.

Student Entrance Requirements

Civilians or sworn police officers may attend Phase 1 of the Pre-Employment Police Basic Training Course.

To enroll, students must:

Be citizens of the United States of America or lawfully residing within the United States of America.
Not have been convicted of a felony.
Possess either a high school diploma or a General Education Diploma (GED)
Successfully complete a pre-acceptance interview in addition to Herkimer County Community College's general admission requirements.

There are no minimum or maximum age requirements for students. However, it should be noted that pursuant to §58 of the Civil Service Law, a candidate seeking permanent appointment to a police officer title must be twenty years of age (20) as of the date of appointment, and not more than thirty five years of age (35) as of the date when the applicant takes the written examination. Time spent on military duty or on terminal leave, not exceeding a total of six (6) years, shall be subtracted from the age of any applicant who has passed his or her thirty-fifth (35) birthday.

Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of this program. For more information, visit www.herkimer.edu/felony

The goals of this program are to:

Introduce students to the field of policing and the requirements necessary for the successful completion of the basic police academy as mandated by the Municipal Police Training Council of New York State.
Provide students with an overview of different types of law enforcement methods, including laws, procedures, and policies.
Enable students to acquire those interpersonal communications skills appropriate for use in law enforcement settings.

Successful graduates from this program will be able to:

Demonstrate mastery of the core skills of the basic police academy as mandated by the Municipal Police Training Council of New York State
Demonstrate and express knowledge in various types of law enforcement methods.
Exhibit appropriate interpersonal skills necessary for law enforcement personnel.

Career Opportunities

Although the program does not guarantee admissions into a police department, every standard required by a full time basic police academy applies including academics, attendance, and physical fitness. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates receive a transcript and a certificate indicating completion of Phase 1 of Pre-Employment Police Basic Training. This certificate gives students two years to secure employment in a police department and complete the Phase II portion of the training before being awarded a full Basic School Certificate from the Department of Criminal Justice Services. The Phase II training is presented only to sworn police officers and contains the remainder of police training units which civilian students are prohibited by state law from attending (Counter terrorism, Firearms Training, Supervised Field Training, and Impact Device Training).

Validity of Pre-Employment Police Basic Training

A Pre-Employment Police Basic Training Course will be valid for a period of two (2) years from the date of completion of any program that includes the training. The date listed on the official transcript issued by the College will be the determining date. In instances where a graduate has not obtained employment within two (2) years, there is no need to "refresh" or repeat the Pre-Employment Basic Training Course.

Pursuant to 9NYCRR 6026.8(h), should a graduate obtain employment as a sworn police officer more than two (2) years, but less than ten (10), from the date of completion recorded on the transcript, the individual is eligible to attend a Police Officer Refresher Course as determined by the Commissioner to refresh the original pre-employment training and complete the remaining training requirements not included in the first phase of training.

If more than ten (10) years has lapsed since graduation, the student will be required to repeat the entire program or attend an entire conventional Basic Course for Police Officers upon appointment as a police officer. This is consistent with the statutory provisions established for police officers who have left police employment (ref. General Municipal Law §209-q).

Other Information

Pursuant to 9NYCRR 6026, training must be conducted as a single and cohesive unit. In practical terms, this means that a student must complete the first phase of training, during one session, at one school. Under no circumstances may a student split the training among multiple schools.

Every student enrolled in a pre-employment course regardless of employment status, must satisfactorily complete each unit of the Pre-Employment Police Basic Training Course as defined in 9 NYCRR 6026.

Program of Study

First Year

1st Semester

HE 187	Physical Fitness & Wellness I	2.5
CJ 180	Administration of Justice	2
CJ 181	Law for Police Officers	5
CJ 182	Law Enforcement Applications I	5
Total Credit Hours:		14.5

2nd Semester

HE 188	Physical Fitness & Wellness II	2.5
CJ 183	Law Enforcement Application II	5
CJ 184	Criminal Investigations	5
CJ 185	Community Relations	3
CJ 186	Emergency Preparedness	1
Total Credit Hours:		16.5

Total Credit Hours: 31

For more information, contact the Humanities and Social Science Division at (315) 866-0300, Ext. 8430 or toll free, 1-866-GO-4-HERK, Ext. 8430.