Training Program

On a police officer's first day of work, he or she starts a training program which will last his or her entire career.  The Hanover Park Police Department has a training program which ensures that each police officer meets or exceeds national, state and department standards. 

INITIAL TRAINING

Pre-academy

Recruit police officers are trained in the following courses: All Hazards Plan, Bloodborne Pathogens, Fire Suppression, First Mental Health Recognition, National Incident Management System courses, Sexual Harassment, SharePoint, Slips, Trips and Falls, Weather Spotting, and basics of cybersecurity.

ACADEMY

All police officers that have no prior law enforcement experience attend a 560 hours (14 week) basic law enforcement academy that is approved by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB).  Courses taught in the academy are specified by ILESTB and the Illinois Police Training Act (50 ILCS 705).

In-House Training

After attending the Basic Law Enforcement Academy, newly hired police officers attend a two week department classroom training that consists of building searches, conducted electrical weapons, defensive tactics, department computer software, department programs, driving under the influence arrests & field sobriety tests, In-car video, initial rifle,  less lethal shotgun, oleoresin capsicum (OC), naloxone, RADAR/LIDAR, rapid deployment, scenarios, stop sticks, tactical first aid, traffic stops, use of respirators, use of shields, vehicle searches, and weapons qualification.

FIELD TRAINING

Recruit police officers then participate in a twelve (12) week field training program where they are trained by two different field training officers.  Field Training Officers are more experience police officers and have attended a 40 hour field training officer course.  

POST FIELD TRAINING

Upon completion of field training, a recruit police officer is then considered a probationary police officer and is then assigned to a patrol team and beat.  The police officer remains on probation for up to one year.  

BASIC PATROL TRAINING

For police officers to be considered trained completely for patrol, a police officer will then complete additional courses including breath operator, domestic violence, impaired driving detection, juvenile officer certification, and vehicle driving.

Each police officer with at least two or more years of service also attends and is certified in Crisis Intervention Training (CIT). This 40-hour program is designed to provide selected officers with specialized training on dealing with individuals in the community who have a mental illness or other behavioral disability.  CIT officers are trained as resource specialists who can provide immediate response to calls involving a mental health crisis.  During the course, officers participate in a variety of valuable exercises that simulate auditory and 3-D visual hallucinations that individuals with a mental illness might experience.

An essential part of the CIT course is scenario-based skills training. Officers are challenged with realistic scenarios. Scenarios may include a suicide intervention, de-escalating a violent situation, or responding to a call involving an individual experiencing paranoia. All scenarios are facilitated and evaluated by certified CIT officers.

Course topics for each class an officer attends may include: signs and symptoms of mental illness, medical conditions that mimic mental illness, compliant surrender and tactical response, child and adolescent disorders, autism, intellectual disabilities, risk assessment and legal issues, substance abuse, veterans in crisis, psychotropic medications, geriatric,  issues, and police response to suspected excited delirium.

STATE MANDATED TRAINING

In addition, the department ensure police officers take additional courses to maintain compliance with the Illinois Police Training Act.  This act mandates training for police officers periodically on the following topics for the specified intervals:

Annual

  • Firearm Qualification
  • Law Updates with Scenarios
  • Use of Force with Scenarios

Triennial

  • Constitutional and Proper Use of Law Enforcement Authority
  • Civil Rights
  • Cultural Competency
  • Human Rights
  • Procedural Justice
  • Mental Health Awareness and Response (Mandated by 1/1/21)
  • Sexual Assault Trauma Informed Response (For all officers)
  • Sexual Assault and Sexual Abuse Investigations (For all investigators and evidence technicians)
  • Officer Wellness (Mandated by 1/1/23)
  • Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (Mandated by 1/1/23)

Quadrennial

  • Lead Homicide Investigator (For all investigators)

Quinquennial

  • Psychology of Domestic Violence

DEPARTMENT REQUIRED TRAINING

In addition to state mandated training, the Department trains officers in Use of Force an additional four times annually.

While not mandated by state law, the department also ensures police officers assigned to the patrol renew their certifications in Standardize Field Field Sobriety and Breath Operator every four years. 

SPECIALTY TRAINING

When a police officer is assigned to a new specialty position, he or she will then receive additional training for that specialty.

SUPERVISOR TRAINING

When a police officer is assigned or promoted to a supervisory role, they then receive additional training for that new role.