Academy Rules & Regulations

GENERAL PROVISIONS

The purpose of this Academy is to properly train and/or educate people directed, as recruits, to attend the police officer training program. All recruits in attendance are required to conform to the behavior standards outlined in the rules and regulations of the Police Academy.

Compliance is expected for good order and discipline and to achieve the goals and objectives of the Academy. In addition to compliance to the rules and regulations, all recruits shall be held accountable for all lawful orders and/or assignments resulting therefrom.

Failure to properly understand, or ignorance of, any rule or regulation will not be accepted as an excuse. Therefore, all recruits shall know and study these rules and regulations and should not hesitate to ask for clarification.

Any violation of these rules and regulations will result in the issuance of certain sanctions or demerits, as defined herein, which will result in further disciplinary action. When the violation is of a more serious nature, or upon a maximum accumulation of demerits, it will warrant appearance before the Director and the Academy Advisory Commitee, which could lead to dismissal from the Academy. Demerits are discretionary in nature if not specifically identified in the “Demerits Evaluation” schedule.

NOTE: Although the Recruit Honor Code appears in a separate document, it is considered a part of these rules and regulations (outlined in rule 1.19). The Recruit Honor Code is a self-directed code of conduct, whose violation is considered extremely serious.

» Adherence to Rules, Regulations, Orders and Instructions

All recruits, while in Academy training, are required to observe Rules and Regulations, Academy Orders and Instructions whether verbal or written. Any recruit violating any of these provisions shall be subject to disciplinary action.

Recruits shall promptly obey orders emanating from Academy Staff or other members of the law enforcement community placed by competent authority in a position of supervision. Should any such lawful order conflict with a previously issued order, the recruit to whom such order is given shall respectfully call attention to such conflict of orders. The order given by the last person shall stand and the recruit obeying such last order shall not be disciplined.

Recruits shall not assume authority without orders.

The Director may, for just cause and at his discretion, refer any recruit to the Police Academy Advisory Committee.

The Director may, for just cause and at his discretion, suspend any recruit for behavior that he deems improper.

» Demerits

Demerits will be issued for violation of any of the rules and regulations contained herein. The number of demerits issued for an infraction is outlined in the “DEMERITS EVALUATION,” as it appears on the last page of these rules and regulations. Demerits are discretionary in nature if not specifically identified in the “Demerits Evaluation” schedule.

An accumulation of fifteen (15) demerits will require an appearance before a review board consisting of the Director, two or more Advisory Committee members and other such persons as may be necessary for a review of circumstances and to conduct a hearing.

An accumulation of twenty (20) demerits will be considered cause for the Recruit’s dismissal from the Academy.

Any demerits received by a recruit during firearms training for any violation of unsafe handling of a weapon, failure to adhere strictly to instructions of a firearms instructor or any other just cause, will be deducted from his/her firearms average if the recruit is in contention for competitive firearms honors.

NOTE: On August 3rd, 2016, the Police Training Commission adopted the revised “Basic Law Enforcement Course Trainee Manual.” This manual covers agency training, certification and academic requirements and course dismissals. THIS MANUAL WAS EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2017 and will be reviewed and provided to each recruit during orientation.

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