| LAW AND ORDER: THE MAGAZINE FOR POLICE MANAGEMENT August 1999 Special Report: New Police Training Philosophy: RCMP Takes Learning to the Streets (sidebar story) by Richard B. Weinblatt (p. 91) |
RCMP officers leaving the basic training academy and entering FTO status do not
abandon their active learning stance. And officers released from FTO training do not
revert to the old passive learner philosophy."When I went through field training, my coach
told me to do it his way, even though I personally learn better by doing" recalled Jay White,
a field training coach for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Newfoundland.
"Today, cadets learn through hard knocks in a controlled environment. He works it out with
me watching." The concept places the onus for learning on the individual officer.
Learning takes longer, but the retention rate is higher.White uses role-play in the car on
the way to calls as a tool to prepare student constable Stephane Babb for the assignment.
The tactic is an extension of what was done at the academy in Regina.
White recalled that on Babb's first day, they were dispatched to a stolen row boat call. The
Adult Learning Model put the responsibility for Babb, with White nearby as a sort of safety
net, to think the process through and figure out how to conduct the investigation.
"He (Babb) correctly came up with interviewing neighbors as potential witnesses. I could
have told him every step to do, but he wouldn't have remembered it so well next time. This
way develops thinking and adaptability skills," said White.
The approach helps officers to decide how to prioritize calls and investigations. It assists in
the determination of which citizen, or client, should get attention and when.
On high-risk calls the tact is slightly different. White said in those situations he takes the
lead and then asks later what could have been done differently.
"Stephane is proactive and self-initiating on his own. I've learned things from him that I
hadn't thought of," White said. "I'm so impressed with what is coming out of the training
academy, that I'd like to become an instructor there," he said.
The RCMP "coaching program" runs a flexible six months. It might be shortened since the
assessment scores have increased dramatically with the introduction of the Adult Learning
Model.
Corporal Keith Payne, detachment commander for the Newfoundland area and both White
and Babb's supervisor, said there is a big difference from the old way of doing things. "I
didn't know what to expect, but I'm pleased with the results." Payne said, "There is no such
thing as a 7½ hour shift here. I like Stephane's work ethic. We often have to say 'Steph, go
home.'"
Ever the proponent of their Adult Learning Model, the RCMP has not stopped at the basic
and FTO training levels. Part and parcel of their CAPRA philosophy is "assessments and
continuous learning."
The lecture orientation in advanced or in-service training has been replaced by the new
student centered learner. Using a "just in time" learning which is computer based, the
RCMP has put the onus on its personnel to acquire the knowledge to do the job.
Himelfarb said they are creating the tools to access information to bridge the gap. The
Learning and Development Branch created a web site that delivers training and other
information in a password protected and secured access manner. Investigators may also
share crime-related information.
Technology is especially good for Canada given the large travelling distances law
enforcers had to cross to get to training. The only hands-on advanced training under the
new generation are those skills training of the firearms and breathalyzer type.
"By using technology, linking people through the internet, we have changed the way
people, children, and the police are trained. In the wave of the future, all of us will have to
know how to learn to reinvent ourselves," Himelfarb said
abandon their active learning stance. And officers released from FTO training do not
revert to the old passive learner philosophy."When I went through field training, my coach
told me to do it his way, even though I personally learn better by doing" recalled Jay White,
a field training coach for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Newfoundland.
"Today, cadets learn through hard knocks in a controlled environment. He works it out with
me watching." The concept places the onus for learning on the individual officer.
Learning takes longer, but the retention rate is higher.White uses role-play in the car on
the way to calls as a tool to prepare student constable Stephane Babb for the assignment.
The tactic is an extension of what was done at the academy in Regina.
White recalled that on Babb's first day, they were dispatched to a stolen row boat call. The
Adult Learning Model put the responsibility for Babb, with White nearby as a sort of safety
net, to think the process through and figure out how to conduct the investigation.
"He (Babb) correctly came up with interviewing neighbors as potential witnesses. I could
have told him every step to do, but he wouldn't have remembered it so well next time. This
way develops thinking and adaptability skills," said White.
The approach helps officers to decide how to prioritize calls and investigations. It assists in
the determination of which citizen, or client, should get attention and when.
On high-risk calls the tact is slightly different. White said in those situations he takes the
lead and then asks later what could have been done differently.
"Stephane is proactive and self-initiating on his own. I've learned things from him that I
hadn't thought of," White said. "I'm so impressed with what is coming out of the training
academy, that I'd like to become an instructor there," he said.
The RCMP "coaching program" runs a flexible six months. It might be shortened since the
assessment scores have increased dramatically with the introduction of the Adult Learning
Model.
Corporal Keith Payne, detachment commander for the Newfoundland area and both White
and Babb's supervisor, said there is a big difference from the old way of doing things. "I
didn't know what to expect, but I'm pleased with the results." Payne said, "There is no such
thing as a 7½ hour shift here. I like Stephane's work ethic. We often have to say 'Steph, go
home.'"
Ever the proponent of their Adult Learning Model, the RCMP has not stopped at the basic
and FTO training levels. Part and parcel of their CAPRA philosophy is "assessments and
continuous learning."
The lecture orientation in advanced or in-service training has been replaced by the new
student centered learner. Using a "just in time" learning which is computer based, the
RCMP has put the onus on its personnel to acquire the knowledge to do the job.
Himelfarb said they are creating the tools to access information to bridge the gap. The
Learning and Development Branch created a web site that delivers training and other
information in a password protected and secured access manner. Investigators may also
share crime-related information.
Technology is especially good for Canada given the large travelling distances law
enforcers had to cross to get to training. The only hands-on advanced training under the
new generation are those skills training of the firearms and breathalyzer type.
"By using technology, linking people through the internet, we have changed the way
people, children, and the police are trained. In the wave of the future, all of us will have to
know how to learn to reinvent ourselves," Himelfarb said
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Florida, Richard B. Weinblatt
provides professional article
writing services and expert
commentary for the media on a
variety of criminal justice topics
| FAST FACT "Reserve Reports" by Richard B. Weinblatt, a regular column in LAW AND ORDER: THE MAGAZINE FOR POLICE MANAGEMENT, ran for a decade (1991-2001). |
| FAST FACT Richard Weinblatt's March-April 1997 SHERIFF MAGAZINE article "Sheriffs Take on Rural Patrol Challenge" featured him on the cover. |
| FAST FACT The 250+ page book "Reserve Law Enforcement in the United States" by Richard B. Weinblatt, was published in 1993 |
This website contains criminal justice articles written by former Police Chief and Criminal Justice Professor/Police Academy Manager Richard B. Weinblatt |