Tustin Police Department: Employment

Welcome to the Tustin Police Department. Being a police officer is both rewarding and a satisfying career. However, police work is also stressful and demanding. Becoming a police officer is a difficult journey, and to prepare a recruit, the police academy will provide opportunities to learn and will test your mental, physical, and emotional strength.

This rigorous training regimen at the Academy is meant to instill pride and discipline in each recruit. Its paramilitary setting helps accomplish this, with its uniform ranks, chain of command and traditions. Come graduation day, the recruit will have earned and will take great pride in your new position as an officer with the Tustin Police Department.

Training
Your recruit training will include academics, physical training, enforcement tactics, weapons training, and vehicle operations. The recruit will be required to meet the standards set forth by both the Commission on Peace Officer standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) and the Academy. The following descriptions will provide an overview of what to expect from each type of training.

Academics
The recruit will be responsible for the 42 “Learning Domains” (LD) mandated by P.O.S.T. as well as agency-specific policies and procedures. During the six months at the Academy, The recruit will receive over 1,000 hours of training from experienced officers. Should the recruit fail to pass any LD examination, He or she must take a remedial exam. Failure of the remedial exam will result in termination from the Academy.

Physical Training
Most recruits find physical training is the most challenging portion of Academy attendance. The recruit will need to report for training prepared for a strenuous conditioning program. The recruit will be motivated to push our body to its limits. He or she will also be expected to pass a multitude of physical fitness tests.

To prepare yourself for such demanding activity, the recruit should be involved in a strength-training program well in advance of entering the Academy. The recruit should also be running at least 3 miles, 3 times a week, at an 8minute per mile pace. Prior to reporting to the Academy, He or she should also be able to complete 50 sit-ups, 50 push-ups, and 10 pull-ups.

Enforcement Tactics
The staff will train the recruit in various aspects of enforcement procedures. The recruit will learn basic applications regarding use of force, patrol techniques, vehicle pullovers, and crimes in progress. The recruit's general knowledge will be tested in each phase, as well as the ability to apply that knowledge to both day and night scenarios.

Weapons Training
Weapons training is a realistic program that prepares officers to face the challenges of on-the-job encounters.

Each recruit will be instructed in the safe handling and effective use of the Department’s general duty weapons: Glock 9mm, 40mm, 45mm or Beretta 9mm.

Weapons training also includes the proper use of Oleoresin Capsicum (OC Spray; also known as pepper spray), operations in a chemical environment (CS gas) and basic recognition and handling of confiscated and clandestine weapons.

Emergency Vehicle Operations (EVOC)
EVOC, one of the finest law enforcement driving training programs available, will train the recruit in enforcement driving. The recruit will hear lectures on vehicle dynamics, performance driving techniques, and departmental policy. He or she will also receive interactive driver training, which includes vehicle placement, skid control techniques, performance driving, defensive driving, and Code 3 pursuit driving.

The Field Training Program
Once a recruit graduates the police academy he or she will enter the Tustin Police Department’s Field Training Program. The FTO program is 18 or more weeks of training working directly with an experienced Field Training Officer.

The program is designed to assist new officers in making the transition from what they learned in the academy to performing general law enforcement patrol duties competently in the field.

The FTO program has been recognized as one of the best in the state. It was designed to achieve the following goals:

To produce a competent peace officer capable of working a solo patrol assignment in a safe, skillful, productive and professional manner.
To provide standardized training to all newly assigned regular officers in the practical application of learned information.
To provide clear standards for rating and evaluation which gives all trainees every reasonable opportunity to succeed.
To enhance the professionalism, job skills, and ethical standards of the law enforcement community.