Cazenovia College’s Phase I Pre-Employment Police Basic Training Program was established in partnership with the Little Falls Police Department, with approval from the State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), in 2004. The curriculum meets all requirements established by the Municipal Police Training Council.
The next training program will commence September 14, 2013, on the Cazenovia College campus. Classes will be held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and on Saturdays through June 2014. The Pre-Employment Police Basic Training Program is open to any New York State resident interested in pursuing employment in a police department in the State. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.
This is a unique opportunity for those persons interested in entering the law enforcement field and is the result of several years of planning by the DCJS. Full-time police academy training takes a considerable amount of time out of a person's life. This program is designed to allow the cadet to continue his or her current employment or other responsibilities with limited intrusion.
Persons interested in more information may contact the Office of Extended Learning at (315) 655-7288.
About the Program
The program, operated through Cazenovia College’s Office of Extended Learning, is designed for current civilian or non-sworn personnel throughout New York State who are interested in entering the law enforcement field as police officers in New York State. Although the program does not guarantee admission into a police department, every standard required by a full-time basic police academy applies, including physical fitness, attendance and academics.
Training is conducted by certified police instructors or approved instructors. Cazenovia College provides professional instructors from both the police community and the College in order to facilitate the appropriate learning environment and meet the rigid standards of the DCJS.
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates receive a transcript and a certificate indicating completion of Phase I of Pre-Employment Police Basic Training. The 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 DCJS.
During the Phase II training, police officers must be presented the three remaining units of the Basic Course for Police Officers, including, but not limited to: Counter-Terrorism for Recruit Police Officers; Firearms Training; and Supervised Field Training Review and Orientation. In addition, each police officer must be presented Impact Device Training and Testing for at least eight hours. Cazenovia College does not currently offer Phase II training.
The Concept
Several years ago many small police departments throughout New York State petitioned the DCJS and the Governor’s Office for help in alleviating the costs of training police officers throughout the state.
Considering that all agencies had to first hire new police officers, send them to a municipal police academy and equip them, all while paying their salaries, small departments found the fiscal burden too cumbersome. Many officers left their departments for various reasons after finishing their training, leaving those departments a tab of about $30,000 per officer.
Pre-Employment Police Basic Training is not a new concept. Thirty-seven other states in the United States conduct it with great success. It relieves law enforcement agencies of the burden and expense of providing Phase I training, but all aspects of regular academy training are essentially the same, except that the student is not a sworn police officer and enters the program as a civilian.
Cadet Entrance Requirements
Civilians or sworn police officers may attend this Phase I training. Cadets must:
- Be citizens of the United States of America or residents of the United States of America.
- Not have been convicted of a felony.
- Possess either a high school diploma or a General Education Diploma (GED).
There are no minimum or maximum age requirements for cadets. 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 as of the date of appointment, and not more than thirty-five years of age 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 years, shall be subtracted from the age of any applicant who has passed his or her thirty-fifth birthday.
Standards for Successful Completion
In order for a cadet to receive a Phase I certificate of completion, certain physical and classroom standards MUST BE MET BEFORE THE END OF THE TRAINING.
Physical Standards:
|
Age/Sex |
Sit-Ups (1 Min) |
Push-Ups |
1.5 Mile Run |
Male |
|
|
|
|
20-29 |
40 |
33 |
11:58 |
|
30-39 |
36 |
27 |
12:24 |
|
40-49 |
31 |
21 |
13:12 |
|
50-59 |
26 |
15 |
14:23 |
|
60+ |
20 |
15 |
15:56 |
|
|
|
|
|
Female |
|
|
|
20-29 |
35 |
18 |
14:04 |
30-39 |
27 |
14 |
14:34 |
40-49 |
22 |
11 |
15:34 |
50-59 |
17 |
9 |
17:19 |
60+ |
8 |
9 |
19:04 |
It is strongly recommended that each cadet be as close as possible to these standards before enrolling in the program.
Classroom and Academic Standards:
Cadets must meet the minimum passing scores for all exams (generally 75%, though some may require a passing score of 100%) and meet the minimum proficiency standards in all applicable areas (defensive tactics, etc.).
Academy Training Hours
The Academy meets every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Academy hours on Tuesday and Thursdays are 5 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. Academy hours on Saturdays are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. These times include physical training. There may be days when Academy hours are extended.
Several blocks of instruction require cadets to attend classes either several days in a row or several full daytime sessions in addition to the regularly scheduled classes. Some of the aforementioned training sessions may be off-site, which will require the cadet to have his or her own transportation. It is mandatory for the cadets to attend all sessions.
Program Costs
The tuition is $4,450 with a $2,000 deposit due with application. Cadets are required to supply their own uniform and physical fitness clothing.
A pro-rated refund will be allowed up until the third Friday of classes. The tuition penalties for withdrawal are listed below:
- Penalty for withdrawal before September 13, 2013, 5 p.m. is $500.00.
- Penalty for withdrawal before September 20, 2013, 5 p.m. is $1112.50.
- Penalty for withdrawal before September 27, 2013, 5 p.m. is $2225.00.
- Penalty for withdrawal before October 4, 2013, 5 p.m. is $3337.50.
No refund of tuition will be granted after October 4, 2013, 5 p.m.
A $100 supply and facility fee is due by the first day of class. No refund will be given after the first day of class.
Conditions of this Training Program
Students in the Pre-Employment Police Basic Training Course must be advised of several conditions of this training program that will affect them during and after attending the program. Through this notice, the school is advising the student of these conditions as required by the policy established for this program by Division of Criminal Justice Services.
- Completion of this program is not a guarantee of employment as a police officer.
- To complete this pre-employment training program, a student must participate in physical fitness training and successfully complete a physical fitness examination.
- To complete this pre-employment training program, a student must comply with mandated New York State regulations that include: strict attendance requirements; maintaining a notebook; and passing written examination/s.
- This is a two-phase program. The first phase is conducted pre-employment and the second phase is conduct after appointment as a police officer. Each individual phase of this training program must be completed as a single and cohesive unit. This means that students must complete the phase of the program at one institution. The following phase may be conducted at a separate institution.
- Before being appointed as a police officer, a person must complete New York State Civil Service requirements and appointing agency hiring standards (including minimum and maximum age and residency requirements) by taking a written examination and scoring high enough on the eligibility list to be considered for appointment.
- Before being appointed as a police officer, a person must take and successfully complete a physical fitness examination.
- Before being appointed as a police officer, a person must submit to a medical examination, which may include drug screening.
- Before being appointed as a police officer, a person may be required to submit to a psychological examination.
- Before being appointed as a police officer, a person with criminal conviction or with a felony conviction may be disqualified from employment.
- Before being appointed as a police officer, a person may be required to submit to a background investigation.
- Upon appointment as a police officer, a person will be required to satisfactorily complete additional training. Failure to complete this training will result in denial of certification by the New York State Municipal Police Training Council. The certification is required by § 209-q of the General Municipal Law for police officers to remain in their positions.
- Pre-employment training will be valid for two years after completion of this program. If a person is not appointed before two years has elapsed, they will be required to attend a Police Refresher Course. After ten years from the date of completion records on the transcript, the training will no longer be valid (this is consistent with the provision of §209-q of the General Municipal Law pertaining to police officers).