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Municipal Police Academy

Curriculum

There are 22 examinations on various sections. Firearms qualifications, operation of patrol vehicles, emergency response, and physical training are examples of section exams.

I: Introduction to the Academy

  1. Academy Mission (one hour)
  2. Academy Objectives (two hours)
  3. Rules and Regulations (one hour)
  4. Learning Skills (two hours)
  5. Role & Function of MPOETC (two hours)
  6. MPO Training & Education Act (one hour)

II. Introduction to Law Enforcement in PA

  1. History and Principles (four hours)
  2. Police, Public and C.O.P. (eight hours)
  3. Ethics and Moral Issues (eight hours)
  4. PA Criminal Justice System (four hours)

III. Physical & Emotional Readiness

  1. Physical Fitness (four hours)
  2. Emotional Health/Stress Mgmt. (eight hours)
  3. Academy Physical Requirements (42 hours)

IV. Laws and Procedures

  1. Authority and Jurisdiction (two hours)
  2. Constitutional Law (four hours)
  3. Criminal Law (32 hours)
  4. Criminal Procedure/Laws of Arrest (32 hours)
  5. Search and Seizure (24 hours)
  6. Admissions and Confessions (two hours)
  7. Civil Laws (four hours)
  8. Liquor Laws (one hour)
  9. Controlled Substances (six hours)
  10. Cell Phone Laws (two hours)
  11. Lethal Weapons Law (one hour)
  12. Electronic Surveillance Act (two hours)
  13. Environmental Crimes (one hour)

V. Defensive Tactics

  1. Use of Force-Legal Issues (four hours)
  2. Use of Force-Continuum (four hours)
  3. Tactical self-defense (36 hours)

VI. Motor Vehicle Law Enforcement/ACC. INV.

  1. Vehicle Code (30 hours)
  2. Enforcement (12 hours)
  3. Occupant Safety (two hours)
  4. DUI Enforcement/Impaired Operator/Intoxilyzer Operation (12 hours)

VII. Motor Vehicle Collision Investigation

  1. Collision Investigation (16 hours)
  2. Collision Scene Traffic Direction and Control (one hour)
  3. Hazardous Materials (four hours)

VIII. Patrol Procedures and Operations

  1. Role of Patrol in Policing the Community (four hours)
  2. Patrol Procedures (16 hours)
  3. Patrol activities & incidents (eight hours)
  4. Monitoring & Controlling vehicular & pedestrian traffic (12 hours)
  5. Vehicle stop Techniques (16 hours)
  6. Roadblocks & Barricades (two hours)
  7. Crimes in Progress (three hours)
  8. Crowd control & Civil disorder (three hours)
  9. Crime prevention/Fear reduction (three hours)
  10. Special Problems-Gangs and Terrorism (six hours)

IX. Principles of Criminal Investigation

  1. Officer as First Responder (eight hours)
  2. Securing the Crime Scene (four hours)
  3. Interviewing/Interrogation (eight hours)
  4. Identifying, Collecting Evidence (eight hours)
  5. Identification of Suspects (two hours)
  6. Crimes against People (two hours)
  7. Injury and Death Cases (four hours)
  8. Sex Crimes (four hours)
  9. Controlled Substances (eight hours)
  10. Informants & Intelligence (two hours)
  11. Surveillance (two hours)

IX. Principles of Criminal Investigation

  1. Civil Complaints & Service (two hours)
  2. Case Preparation (four hours)
  3. Radio Procedures (two hours)

X. Human Relations

  1. Perceptions of Human Behavior (eight hours)
  2. Communication (four hours)
  3. Cultural Diversity (eight hours)
  4. Ethnic Intimidation/Bias Crimes (four hours)

XI. Crisis Management

  1. Behavior Mgmt./Crisis Intervention (four hours)
  2. Dispute intervention/conflict mgmt. (four hours)
  3. Recognizing Special Needs (11 hours)
  4. Suicide, barricaded persons, hostage situations (four hours)

XII. Families in Crisis

  1. Juvenile Law & Justice (four hours)
  2. Handling juveniles & their problems (four hours)
  3. Domestic violence & police response (eight hours)
  4. Victim Assistance Laws (four hours)

XIII. Basic Firearms

  1. Basic Firearms Course (80 hours)

XIV. Operation of Patrol Vehicles

  1. Emergency Vehicle Operations (40 hours)

XV. Report Writing

  1. Report writing & notetaking (eight hours)

XVI. Case Presentation

  1. Courtroom Testimony & Demeanor (12 hours)
  2. Rules of Evidence (eight hours)

XVII. First Aid & CPR

  1. Emergency Response Training (52 hours)

XVIII. Handling Arrested Persons

  1. Mechanics of Arrest, Restraint and Control (16 hours)
  2. Handcuffing (four hours)
  3. Transporting Prisoners (four hours)
  4. Custody of the Mentally Ill (two hours)
  5. Booking and Lockup (two hours)
  6. Booking & Lockup/Juveniles (two hours)
  7. Special Problems (two hours)