Special Police Officer Initial Training - Fundamentals of Policing

Catalog description

8.1 Continuing Education Units (CEU). This course is not for Credit(s). This continuing education course, for individuals wanting to earn the special police officer (SPO) commission, is designed to provide instruction and addresses multiple SPO training objectives as approved by the Secretary of the Maryland State Police. Topics to be covered include: the special police officer commission, criminal law, constitutional law, crisis intervention, crime prevention, patrol procedures, court procedures, and civil disorder. Course Objectives Upon completion of this course the student will be able to: 1. identify the requirements for receiving and maintaining a special police officer (SPO) commission in the State of Maryland; 2. demonstrate communication skills for de-escalation in public interactions; 3. identify the role of a special police officer in a civil dispute, such as landlord/tenant, employer/employee, driver/tow truck operator, etc; 4. identify the special police officer’s role in crime prevention; 5. demonstrate co mpleting acceptable police reports; 6. demonstrate completing a statement of probable cause and statement of charges for a warrantless arrest; 7. identify a special police officer’s pre-trial responsibilities and procedures; 8. identify the legal requirements to lawfully detain a person; 9. identify the legal requirements to make a lawful arrest; 10. identify the legal requirements to conduct a stop or search based on evidence of cannabis; 11. identify basic criminal law concepts (level of suspicion, felony, misdemeanor, warrant, warrantless); 12. identify criminal gangs active in the U.S. and locally; 13. identify circumstances and procedures for responding to and handling hazardous materials incidents; 14. identify the special police officer’s role in handling crowds and 1st Amendment protected activities such as protests, political events, and labor disputes; and 15. demonstrate effectively interacting with a person in a mental health crisis. Back to Top |