West Memphis PD sees success with in-house police training

West Memphis PD sees success with in-house police training

Langston: New academy ‘ shows a lot of progress’

news@theeveningtimes.com

The training culture bloomed fully with an all new West Memphis Police training academy graduating seven new officers Nov. 10. The commencement ceremony took place at the ASU-Mid South with more than 100 well-wishers on hand. Captain Robert Langston, who directed the academy, pointed out that reestablishing an in house academy was a logical extension of the departments commitment to training and paid tribute to Chief Donald Oakes dedication.

“The chief’s leadership has been vital to what I believe is one of the premiere training divisions in the State of Arkansas,” said Langston. “Although the State only requires a mandated 40 hours of training a year, West Memphis officers receive almost 200 hours per year. This vision led to the development of this basic academy.”

The academy curriculum went above basic requirements. Becoming a certified police officer requires 528 hours of State mandated training. The West Memphis Police Training Academy is 600 hours, two weeks longer than training academies in Camden or Pocahontas. The department had relied on those training centers for the last 28 years. This class was the first trained in West Memphis since 1978.

Holding the academy locally not only put the onus on the department to develop recruits but also provided opportunities to develop a community policing focus in the new officers. West Memphis specific rules and procedures were emphasized. Ride along shifts taught the city street layout and tactics for the candidates and provided interaction with residents. The recruits participated in community events at schools and parks. Each class member passed the Army physical fitness requirements which held another benefit for the seven cadets.

“Their total weight loss was 75 pounds,” said Sergeant Dennis.

Writing skills were emphasized.

“Its’ a perishable skill that they needed to develop,” said Sergeant Dennis. “They completed a journal daily, where as the academies in Camden and Pocahontas this training consists of only one week.

Alitany of learning covered the basics for the new officers including fire arms tactics, defensive tactics, active shooter, safety, medical, report writing, accident investigation, civil law, criminal procedures, search and seizure, incident response, close quarters battle, investigative techniques, crime scene processing, domestic violence, sexual assault, juvenile law, and driving.

Mayor Bill Johnson shared his impressions of the academy and the class after the graduation ceremony.

“This graduation shows a lot of progress being made,” said Johnson. “They met their goals developing a first class training session. The new officers were very imover pressive.”

By John Rech