The Dunbarton Police Department is the second New Hampshire department to be awarded national Recognition status with part time officers. Several standards speak to part time officer training, however, there is no clear guidance beyond part time officers receiving “like” training to full time officers. This is a challenge for New Hampshire departments because New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council has a difference curriculum for part time officers. Part time officers must complete a 110 hour academy while full time officers must complete a 488 hour academy to become certified.
However, now that the Dunbarton Police Department has met these standards it paves the way for other New Hampshire departments who utilize part time officers to participate in the accreditation process. Essentially, a department can meet the standards by three means. First, a department can conduct enhanced training for their part time officers so that they receive similar training as full time officers. Second, a department can limit a part time officer’s functions through written directives. Third, a department can both limit a part time officer’s function and complete enhanced training in specific areas. This process begins with a Job Task Analysis.
The Dunbarton Police Department administered a Job Task Analysis that identified 501 functions officers perform. Once the analysis was completed the department decided to build a curriculum of enhanced training to add to the core training part time officers receive at the part time officer academy. Dunbarton’s curriculum included an additional 160 hours of training in specific high liability areas such as driving and firearms.
An example of limiting function involves Felony investigations. Dunbarton’s written directive regarding investigations clearly requires part time officers to be directly supervised by a supervisor when performing any Felony investigation.
