In-Service Course Descriptions

Must be sworn police or peace officer employed or sponsored by a law enforcement agency. 

Advanced Interview & Interrogation Techniques

2 credits
This course has been designed to provide both the public safety investigator and the uniform officer with proven techniques that will assist in obtaining information critical to any investigation. This includes; street stops, traffic stops, violation, misdemeanor and felony investigations. This class will begin with victim interviews, neighborhood checks, informant interviews, developing witnesses and end with the criminal interrogation. Participants will learn & develop proven skills through a series of lectures and classroom exercises. Topics include: neurolinguistic programming; development of rapport; truth versus deception; legal issues pertinent to interviews; video taping, written and oral statements; developing a game plan; multiple suspect investigations.

Aerosol Subject Restraint Instructor

1 credit
This course prepares the NYS DCJS certified general topics instructor in the history of chemical sprays, selection, safety, effectiveness, hand held personal delivery systems, methods of carry, operational guidelines, in-custody deaths, case studies and decontamination. The course includes both classroom instruction and practical exercises. Student exposure to OC at the instructor level is mandated.
Note: Must be certified as NYS DCJS general topics instructor.

Basic Criminal Investigation

4.5 credits
This is a DCJS certified 70-hour course. This course teaches the basic skills required for the newly appointed criminal investigator. Topic areas include general investigatory techniques, crime analysis, report writing, legal issues, crime management, physical evidence, search warrant preparation and court testimony. The participant will process a crime scene, interview and interrogate victims, witnesses and suspects while preparing the case for trial at which time the participant will testify during a moot court. A final exam will consist of a written, oral and practical performance of skills, including peer assessment.

Basic Investigative Photography

2 credits
This is a DCJS certified 35-hour course. The course is designed for criminal justice personnel with all levels of photography experience. Overview of course includes Basic Photographic Equipment, Digital Photography, Basic Techniques of Photography, and Lighting Techniques. Workshops will include Basic Concepts of Photography, Flash Photography, Crime Scene and Evidence Photography.

Basic Police Sniper / Observer School

4 credits
Topics include an overview of sniper operations; effects of shooting through intermediate barriers, scopes / minute of angle; data management, marksmanship, observation skills, camouflage & concealment; field craft / stalking, urban sniper operations, range estimation; and engagement of moving targets; keep in memory systems (KIMS). SWORN LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL ONLY

Breath Analysis Operator

2 credits
This is a DCJS certified 24-hour course. This Breath Analysis Operator Course certifies law enforcement personnel in the operation of the Datamaster and new Datamaster, DMT Infrared Breath Test instrument only. The program presents information on the effects of alcohol on the human body, operational procedures, Vehicle and Traffic Law pertaining to DWI enforcement, and pertinent case law. Students must pass both a written test and an instrument proficiency examination in order to be certified. SWORN LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL ONLY.

Breath Analysis Operator Recertification

Non-credit
Pursuant to Department of Health regulations, all Breath Analysis Operators must be re-certified every two years. To be eligible for recertification, currently certified operators must successfully complete a written examination at an authorized testing center prior to the expiration of their current permit. Successful students will receive a Breath Analysis Operator Permit which will expire two years from the date of issuance.

Crime Prevention

2 credits
This is a DCJS certified 35-hour course. The course is designed for experienced in-service officers. They will receive instruction in many fundamentals of crime prevention skills and programming. This course will prepare the officer for systematic, positive interaction with the community and its various populations.
Overview of Course Topics:

  • substance abuse prevention
  • volunteer management in crime prevention
  • crime analysis and resource utilization
  • crime prevention and seniors
  • security hardware, lighting, and alarms
  • security survey and field work application

Must be a sworn law enforcement officer.

Police Crime Scene and Evidence Specialist

4 credits
This is a DCJS 70-hour certified course. This course teaches officers how to record and document crime scenes and how to collect evidence properly. It is most appropriate for those officers who are the first to arrive at a crime scene and those responsible for complete crime scene analyses. The course includes instruction in photography, diagramming, measurements, latent fingerprint processing, and the retrieval of physical evidence. Objectives include recognizing and establishing the physical boundaries of a crime scene, protecting the crime scene from contamination and degradation, correctly recognizing evidence within the crime scene, having a working knowledge of powder/chemical processing of evidence, and knowing how to properly secure, mark and package physical evidence.
Note: Prerequisite for this course is the successful completion of the Basic Investigative Photography course.

Defensive Tactics Instructor

4 credits
This is a DCJS 70-hour certified course. Course overview:

  • judicious use of force
  • handcuffing systems
  • straight baton
  • pressure points
  • active counter measures
  • weapon retention

Prerequisites for this training as required by BMP are:

  • BMP police instructor
  • minimum 2 years of full-time (or equivalent) service as either a police officer or peace officer
  • good physical condition (MUST physically participate in instruction)

Those who successfully complete the proficiency test, written test, and presentation evaluation will receive certification as a Defensive Tactics Instructor from the Bureau for Municipal Police. Each participant must provide a gun belt, handcuffs with key, mouthpiece, straight baton and ring holder, cross trainer gym shoes, and appropriate clothing for practical training.
Prerequisites: NYS General Topic Instructor Certification, a minimum of two years full-time or equivalent service as either a police or peace officer AND good physical condition, must physically participate in all DAILY exercises and instruction.

DWI Detection / Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Course

1.5 credits
This program is designed to increase the police officer's ability to detect the alcohol impaired motor vehicle operator. The course instructs the officer in ways of building a strong common law case emphasizing the administration of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST) developed by NHTSA. This course is offered by OPS, local law enforcement agencies, and academies.

Emergency Vehicle Operations Instructor

3.5 credits
This is a DCJS certified course. The course overview includes Legal Issues and Pursuit Driving, Non-Emergency Response Driving, Emergency Response Driving, and Driving Track Administration. Those who successfully complete the proficiency test, written test and presentation evaluation will receive certification as an Emergency Vehicle Operations Instructor from the NYS Office of Public Safety.
Prerequisites: NYS valid driver's license, NYS General Topic Instructor Certification, Minimum of three years full-time or equivalent service as a law enforcement officer, and Completed Basic Course for Law Enforcement.

Field Training and Evaluation

2 credits
This is a DCJS 35-hour certified course. This is an intensive program designed to provide new Field Training Officers with expertise in the area of training and evaluating recent graduates of the Basic Course for Police Officers. The course is the standard officers should possess for mentoring new recruits during their field training component of the Basic Course for Police Officers. Overview of instruction:

  • areas of liability regarding an FTO program
  • legal and ethical constraints
  • work and motivation
  • instructional techniques
  • conditions of learning in adult education
  • the FTO as a counselor
  • dealing with anger
  • remedial training strategies
  • objectives of performance and evaluation system
  • scale value application
  • termination procedures (an overview)
  • use of patrol/police officer response guide.

Prerequisites: MPTC Basic Course for Police Officers training certificate. 

Firearms Instructor

4 credits
This is a DCJS 70-hour certified course. This course will emphasize instructional and coaching techniques, and the role of the firearms instructor. Students will receive instruction on the psychology of learning, liability issues, oral communication, lesson planning, range rules, basic fundamentals of shooting, line operations and range commands, scoring techniques, judgmental shooting, and conducting field demonstrations. Each participant is required to demonstrate their understanding of the class material by developing a lesson plan and delivering a 10-minute presentation and a 50-minute presentation. Final student evaluation will be based on the lesson plan, the 50-minute presentation, class participation, and a written exam. Students that successfully complete this program will be certified as firearms instructors by the New York State Bureau for Municipal Police.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of the Basic Course for Police Officers or Basic Course for Peace Officers; 3 years experience in a police or peace officer position that requires carrying a firearm; sworn active police or peace officer; DCJS General Topics Instructor certification; agency issued photo identification is required.
Note: SHOOTING PRE-TEST: On the first day of the course students will be required to fire the Qualifying Course of Fire as described in the Firearms Training unit of the New York State Municipal Police Training Council Basic Course for Police Officers. Enclosed is the qualifying course of fire.

Firearms Instructor Advanced

2 credits
This 35-hour course prepares DCJS firearms certified instructors to teach numerous advanced issues pertaining to firearms including, safety, instructional techniques, shooting fundamentals, tactics, revolvers, semi automatic pistols, shotguns, ammunition, equipment, use of force, critical incident trauma and legal issues. The course is presented in the classroom and the firearms range.
Prerequisites: DCJS firearms instructor certification, successful completion of a Basic Course for Police Officers or Basic Course for Peace Officers, and three years experience in a police or peace officer position that requires carrying a firearm.

Instructor Development

4.5 credits
This is a DCJS 70-hour certified course. To successfully complete this course, the participants must be able to prepare, in writing, a training curriculum which includes course objectives, course outline, and a detailed lesson plan; demonstrate the correct use of at least three (3) audio-visual aids; and successfully prepare and present a 50-minute oral presentation of a training topic before the class, utilizing the techniques emphasized in this course. Each student will be rated according to the DCJS Instructor Evaluation Checklist. Each student that successfully completes this program will receive certification from the Bureau for Municipal Police Training as a Police Instructor for general topics.

Instructor Evaluator Workshop

Non-credit
This workshop is designed to provide experienced instructors with the skills necessary to conduct periodic evaluations of other instructors as mandated by the Municipal Police Training Council. These periodic and impartial evaluations will aid in ensuring the quality of law enforcement instruction throughout the state remains high. The training workshop provides information in several topical areas of instructor evaluation including: Criteria denoting an instructor pursuant to NYS Codes, Rules and Regulations (NYCRR), stages of an instructor evaluation process and objectively evaluating a presentation.

Interview & Interrogation

2 credits
This 35-hour course is designed to provide public safety personnel techniques of interviewing and interrogation. This course is designed to provide investigators and uniformed officers with proven techniques that can be applied in various accusatory and non-accusatory interview situations. Participants will develop skills in preparing for the interrogation with a "game plan" which emphasizes a pro-active rather than reactive role. A series of lectures, video tape exercises, and practical hands-on classroom experiences are used in the instruction. The class includes up-to-date information on NYS legal aspects of interrogation and admissibility of the confession into court. 

Law Enforcement Bicycle Patrol Course

2 credits
This course gives law enforcement personnel the skills required to conduct patrol and enforcement activities utilizing the modern mountain bicycle. The participants will practice techniques appropriate for urban, residential and rural environments. Students will also lean the proper care, maintenance and selection of equipment, physical conditioning and defensive tactics. The program includes both classroom and field exercises.

Patrol Rifle Operator Course

2 credits
This course is for the patrol officer whose duties require the use of an AR style patrol rifle. There is no physical training involved, however the participant must be able to withstand difficult shooting and movement associated with the environment a patrol officer may respond to. This is not a familiarization course. LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL ONLY

Patrol Rifle Instructor Course

1.5 credits
This course is designed to train and prepare the Firearms Instructor to be a Patrol Rifle instructor. Officers who attend are expected to have a basic knowledge of the patrol rifle used and be able to safely and accurately use the rifle. Officers must be physically capable of quickly and safety assuming the standing, kneeling, sitting, and prone positions. The ability to field strip and reassemble the duty firearm is a must. This is not a familiarization course. All participants must be a current NYS Firearms Instructor. Completion of the NYS DCJS Patrol Rifle Course is mandatory. LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL ONLY

Physical Fitness Instructor

2 credits
This course prepares certified NYS general topics instructors to teach numerous issues pertaining to physical fitness training. This includes: training safety, instructional techniques, nutrition, physical and emotional well being, fitness training techniques, fitness testing protocols and legal issues. The program is presented in the classroom and the defensive tactics room.
Note: Must meet the 70th percentile of the OPS approved Physical Fitness standards for Police Officer candidates.Prerequisites - MPTC Instructor certification, successful completion of the Basic Course for Police Officers or Peace Officers.

Police Motorcycle Operator Course

4 credits
Topics of this course include: maintenance; emergency braking; evasive maneuvers; curb and obstacle negotiation; traffic stops, curve negotiation.

Police Supervision

6 credits
This is a DCJS 105-hour certified course. This course is designed for those law enforcement officers that have or will receive permanent appointment as a first-line supervisor. The Police Supervision Course is a mandatory requirement for any recently appointed supervisor of law enforcement personnel. The curriculum provides a learning experience that assists the newly-appointed supervisor in making the transition from the rank-and-file to management. Through practical exercises, the trainees learn to successfully apply acquired skills to a wide range of realistic supervisory problems. The curriculum provides a wide range of general subjects such as communication skills, both written and oral, techniques of counseling and discipline, ethics, crime prevention, community policing, incident management, and police use of force incidents. The curriculum also provides for updating the trainees knowledge of criminal and procedure law and stresses the concept of vicarious liability. During the course, the trainee will be exposed to a wide variety of management styles, thereby allowing the individual to be flexible and utilize the one most appropriate to each situation. Finally, the curriculum prepares the trainee to successfully meet the present challenges of police supervision and to realistically anticipate and plan for any situation. Daily attendance and successful completion of academic and performance testing is required in order to receive certification. All new first line supervisors of any rank must complete this course within one year of appointment.
Prerequisites: Police Officer with a valid MPTC Basic Course for Police Officers certificate of training.
Note: Becoming a first-line supervisor of law enforcement officers, as defined in section 209-q (2) (b) of the General Municipal Law, requires successful completion of this course as approved by the Commissioner of the Division of Criminal Justice Services. This course provides 105 hours of training pursuant to Section 6021 of Title 9, Subtitle U of the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York.

Public Information Officer

2 credits
Program Overview: This course was designed by NHTSA to provide officers with the ability to give accurate and timely information during both routine and crisis situations. Students will learn the duties and responsibilities of a PIO, legal communications, components of news releases and interviews. It includes lectures and simulated interviews.

RADAR/LIDAR Instructor

.5 credit
This NHTSA program is designed to train individuals in the proper procedures and protocols to instruct the NHTSA Speed Measurement Operator Series (Radar and LIDAR). This course will consist of classroom presentation and field exercises.
Prerequisites: Certified Radar or Radar-LIDAR Operator & valid and current General Topics instructor status.

RADAR/LIDAR Operator

2 credits
This is a DCJS-32 hour certified course. This course will train the participant in the use of radar/LIDAR speed detection instruments. The curriculum includes radar/LIDAR theory, vehicle and traffic law, court preparation and presentation. Each participant will develop skills in calibrating the radar/LIDAR equipment and practice speed estimates. Each participant will be given a written final exam and a practical exam based on performance of skills learned.
Course Objective: At the completion of this course each participant will have developed the skills necessary to operate a variety of radar/LIDAR speed detection devices.

School Resource Officer

2 credits
This course trains law enforcement personnel who are assigned to work in schools. Utilizing a triad approach consisting of law enforcement, intervention, and education the officer will learn how to establish and facilitate an effective community orientated law enforcement program. The SRO is a blending of all skills an individual brings to the position: law enforcement, parent, brother, sister, educator, advisor, resource and public servant. The officer will not leave after five days fully equipped to perform all the duties and functions required to the SRO. They will leave with valuable information, knowledge, resources to explore and new skills that provide insight and a better understanding of the duties and expectations of the SRO.

Simplifying the Search Warrant Application

1 credit
This course is designed to develop the officer's abilities to better understand and create search warrants. This course will provide hands-on practical training for the proper completion of the search warrant process. Officers will learn how to develop probable cause and to use that probable cause for the development of legally sufficient search warrants.

Tactical Warrant/Building Search

2 credits
This 35-hour course is designed to provide officers with the skills to serve warrants and approach high-risk situations such as prowler calls and building searches; very challenging environments that require specialized training to command the edge in both shooting and non-shooting situations. This course was developed especially for the patrol officer tasked to conduct building searches, and for the officer who has the responsibility to conduct narcotics search warrants. This course is facilitated with intensive, hands on training that will enhance the investigating officer's ability to execute warrants and tactical approaches safely and effectively. Individuals should attend this course with the capability and motivation to participate in a stressful environment, both physically and mentally.

Tactical Warrant Service Refresher

This course is facilitated with intensive, hands on training that will enhance the investigating officer's ability to execute warrants and building searches safely and effectively. Individuals should attend this course with the capability and motivation to participate in a stressful environment, both physically and mentally. The refresher is designed to: sharpen the officer's shooting, defensive tactics, and decision making skills; regain confidence with covert and dynamic entry techniques; assessment with issued equipment. The TWS refresher course if available to all officers who have successfully completed the Tactical Warrant Service and Building Search class more than 1 year ago.