Opportunities for training in law enforcement are vast and plentiful. With the surplus of free or low-cost training available to the average police officer, there really is no excuse for any officer to fail to meet the minimum required continuing education requirements. Formal training classes are, however, just one aspect of a law enforcement officer’s professional education.

While the cost of many specialized courses has skyrocketed, sometimes to the point that small departments with limited budgets are unable to have access to them, there are still many courses offered that are well within the means of most agencies and/or officers. Having worked for smaller agencies my entire career, I became a bit of an expert in locating low-cost (or free) police training. This could be done by first checking with other local agencies or police organizations (police or sheriff’s associations). Many offer courses that are open to outside agencies. Secondly, many state agencies and universities (through federal or state grant partnerships) offer free training. In most cases, these are interesting and relevant courses that provide not only an education, but also continuing education credits that we all must have to maintain our licenses.

I always sought to be a well-rounded officer, and I believe many other law enforcement officers do as well.

What about agencies that are so rural they have extremely limited opportunities for training? This is of course a more difficult predicament. With the increasing reach and offerings of the internet, online training is only a click away, and many agencies, rural or otherwise, are taking advantage of that technology. However, there are limitations to what you can learn from a computer screen. Hands-on courses such as defensive tactics would not be well suited for an online platform. Physical skill development courses, including firearms training, would be impossible to obtain via the internet.

Many agencies across this country, both large and small, have created their own training section. It may be composed of a cadre of instructors, or perhaps just one person to do it all. In either case, your department training officer is responsible for providing — whether through in-service or outside venues — training for departmental members. Selecting officers to serve in training positions is complex. The attributes needed in a training officer require someone with above-average research, writing and teaching abilities.

Officers should adopt the attitude that ultimately their training is their responsibility. Many of us have sought specialized training to attend. In one case, my request for a particular course was refused by the chief of police. After a conversation and a compromise with the chief, the department agreed to my use of a patrol car and to pay for my lodging if I paid for the course out of pocket. Considering the course was something I needed to complete future projects, it was well worth the investment for me. After completing that class, I found it to be one of the best courses I’ve ever attended — its principles are still useful to me today.

How does an officer get training on their own? While there are several dynamics in play depending on your department’s structure, your schedule and many other factors, if you seek it out earnestly, you’ll find it.

The first move is to figure out if there is a particular subject or topic in which you want to specialize. Do you enjoy impaired driving enforcement? There are a copious number of courses available (usually funded by NHTSA grants). You may have to drive a distance or stay in a motel overnight somewhere, but assuredly you will find courses in this field. What about specific firearms training or special operations tactics? These types of classes are generally popular, are offered less frequently and can be expensive, so access may be limited in some cases. Do you have a well-trained tactical operations officer in the area who could teach such a class? This might be the way to get that training.

What about easier avenues for training? Perhaps that question can be answered through online sources or just an old-fashioned book. Throughout my career, I sought to educate myself as much as possible about my profession. I’ve read multiple books related to firearms ballistics, traffic stop tactics and even really boring stuff like case law and legal updates. I always sought to be a well-rounded officer, and I believe many other law enforcement officers do as well.

Have you ever considered swapping training sessions? Each state has a law enforcement oversight agency (in Missouri it is referred to as POST, Peace Officer Standards and Training). Within this bureaucracy are the required standards for creating continuing education courses and getting them approved to teach others. If you have a particular skill in policing, you can author your own course, get it approved for continuing education credit and teach it within your agency or to members of other agencies. By having courses available to teach, you can effectively “trade” training — you teach other agencies in return for being allowed to attend their training.

There is no secret formula for obtaining education. It’s all up to you. Be tenacious in locating and attending training courses in your area. Seek out online sources of training, even when that training may not offer continuing education credits. Read books — find topics of professional interest and spend some of your precious free time reading quality tomes. Educating yourself may not result in a degree or a wall full of certificates, but it will have a huge payoff as you do your job and have answers to questions you had no idea would be asked one day.

Training is only one avenue of education. Other pathways include experience, formal schooling, reading books and magazines or watching videos. An officer can go through an entire career and meet only the bare minimum of continuing education. The best officers, however, seek training and education well beyond what the department requires of them.