Peace Officer Training Courses

Every peace officer in the State of New York must successfully complete a training program, a portion of which is prescribed by the Municipal Police Training Council (MPTC) and a portion of which shall be prescribed by the employer. The portion prescribed by the employer shall be comprised of subjects relating to the special nature of the duties of the officer and appear on the curriculum content form submitted for approval. For example, the Basic Course for Correction Officers includes the modules of the Basic Course for Peace Officers with Firearms plus the additional hours of training specific to the duties of a corrections officer.

All basic course requirements, which include classroom instruction and initial training in firearms and other weapons, must be completed as a single and cohesive unit. In order to receive certification, students who begin basic training together must successfully complete all aspects of the training, to a single standard determined by the course director, within the original time frame determined by the course director. Failure to complete any aspect of training, including qualification during initial training in firearms and other weapons, will result in no certification. Regulations do not permit the course director or DCJS to grant partial credit.

Peace Officers are required to complete a 35 Hour Basic Peace Officer Training Course.  Mandatory subjects include Ethics and the Law Enforcement Profession, Constitutional Law, Penal Law, Criminal Procedure Law, The Court Environment, Civil Law, Investigations by Peace Officers, Arrest and Custody Procedures, Report Writing, and Conflict Resolution.  To work as a Peace Officer with Firearms you must also complete the Initial Firearms and Deadly Physical Force Course which is a 47 Hour Firearms Training Course for Peace Officers.

Understanding the difficulties inherent in scheduling instructors and firearms range facilities, DCJS does not require the classroom and range components be run consecutively, only that the curriculum content form identify the dates and times of each. For example, a Basic Course for Peace Officers with Firearms can be scheduled from June through September, with the classroom component being completed in June and the range component being delivered in September when a firing range can be secured. Once both components are completed, the course director shall submit one Class Roster / Notification of Completion for the Basic Course for Peace Officers with Firearms.

Annual weapons training is mandated for all officers who have access to, or supervise those who have access to, a firearm or other weapon in the official course of their duties. The MPTC has established standards for all mandated annual weapons training including the use of firearms and deadly physical force and other weapons, as defined in Criminal Procedure Law §2.30(1).

It is required by New York State law that all persons attending this course must be employed as a Peace Officer and also be listed on the employer’s peace officer registry.  It is also required by New York State law that the Division of Justice Services receives a notice at least 45 days in advance of the start of the program.

Prior to submitting the curriculum to the Division of Justice Services for approval, we recommend a conference with the employer to discuss additional electives they may want to include into the course.  Additional electives may be First Aid/CPR/AED, Report Writing, Summons Writing, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Handcuffing, OC Aerosol Spray & Non Lethal Defense Tactics, Baton Training, Questioning & Arrest Tactics, Vehicle Stop Procedures, Terrorism & Terrorism Indicators, Emergency Training, Evacuation Procedures, and Sexual Harassment.

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