Basic Police Academy

The Rio Hondo Police Academy is a certificate program which is designed to prepare students to become entry-level police officers in local and state law enforcement agencies in California. This training course includes 42 learning domains, which includes instruction in leadership, professionalism and ethics, the criminal justice system, policing in the community, introduction to criminal law, laws of arrest, search and seizure, presentation of evidence, investigative report writing, vehicle operations, use of force, traffic enforcement, crime scenes, evidence, and forensics, custody arrest methods, First Aid/CPR, firearms, chemical agents, information systems, crims against the justice system, cultural diversity/discrimination and procedural justice. This course also meets the certification requirements of the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).

We project that approximately 50 students will complete this program each year. 

The purpose of the Rio Hondo College, Basic Police Academy Certificate Program is to prepare students mentally, morally, emotionally, physically and academically to become law enforcement professionals. Students will gain the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to complete field officer training within any law enforcement agency. Courses encourage the development of sensitivities and understanding of the role of a police officer within the criminal justice system, the police agency, and the community. The result is a future law enforcement professional who understands that quality policing results from generating a sufficient balance between energetic, assertive enforcement and justice for the victim, the offender, and society. Students are trained and tested to ensure that graduates demonstrate the highest quality character, knowledge, problem solving, relational, communication, and physical standards necessary to meet the professional requirements of a peace officer.

The Rio Hondo College, Basic Police Academy Certificate Program incorporates Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), State of California, Basic Law Enforcement Academy training requirements for students wanting to be hired by a law enforcement agency or for newly hired peace officers/cadets. All graduating students will meet or exceed the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) professional standards and successfully passed all written and practical skill tests required for a California.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Execute the skills and abilities required by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, known as P.O.S.T. 
2. Apply all 43 P.O.S.T. learning domains and competencies in emergency situations to analyze and make decisions that enforce the law, protect people and property, and investigate crime, with the ultimate outcome of keeping the peace within communities. 
3. Recognize the fundamentals of effective law enforcement including leadership, professional ethics, policing, criminal law, statutes, controlled substances, arrests, search and seizure, presenting evidence, patrol techniques, report writing, vehicle operations, use of force, pullovers, crimes in progress, crowd control, domestic violence, crimes against children, and traffic enforcement. 
4. Judge and interpret moral and ethical challenges as prescribed by industry standards to enforce the law and encourage community responsibility.
5. Demonstrate physical stamina necessary to meet or exceed fitness requirements such as vertical jump, situps, pushups, and a 1.5-mile run. 
6. Ability to apply principles of professional reasoning and problem-solving in urgent situations to mediate judicial, safe, and efficient outcomes. 

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
PAC 075B	Basic Course Module III (EXT)	7.0
PAC 075C	Basic Course Module III (EXT)	8.5
PAC 075D	Basic Course Module III (EXT)	21.5
	OR
PAC 075E	Basic Academy Intensive Modular III	7.0
PAC 075F	Basic Academy Intensive Modular II	8.5
PAC 075G	Basic Academy Intensive Modular I	21.5

Total Units: 37

In addition to Rio Hondo College admission requirements, prospective students are asked to attend a mandatory Police Academy Information meeting, as well as:

• pass the POST PELLET B (reading and writing) test;
• pass the Physical Agility Test (fitness)  test; and
• complete the Academy application process,  including medical clearance, proof of medical insurance, DMV history, DOJ Firearms Clearance.

PELLET B

Prospective students attend a mandatory information meeting prior to registering for Pellet B Testing.  The Academy administers the POST Entry-level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB). The PELLETB is a timed, 2-1/2 hour written test consisting of multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions designed to measure reading and writing ability. The Academy requires a T-score of 42 or higher in order to apply for entry into its Basic Police Academy.

Prospective students will also pass a Physical Agility Test: 

a. 99-yard obstacle course
b. 165 Drag 32ft
c. Chain Link Fence Climb 6ft
d. Solid Wall Climb 6ft
e. 500 Yard Sprint

POST regulations prohibit examinees from taking this exam more than one time in any 30-day period from any exam site in the State of California. If a student makes multiple attempts to take this exam within a 30-day period, POST will invalidate the exam.

Division of Public Safety

East Los Angeles, Golden West, Los Angeles Mission, West Los Angeles

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