The Sacramento, Calif., Police Department does a lot of professional training of its officers and some of it involves private-sector entities, including Target, Nugget Markets and Sutter Health.
The department has partnered with the companies to incorporate lessons in how to make the police department a good place to work that also provides good customer service.
Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel started the program when he took over the department in 2008. About once year, the department invites representatives from large companies known for their customer service.
“Treat your employees right and they treat the customers right — that’s kind of how we run,” said Sgt. Jerry Camous, in-service/field training supervisor with the Sacramento Police Department. “We’ve got a motto around here to invest in the employees.”
Investments in employees, which Camous said can be difficult to make because of budget cuts, include good training opportunities, counseling for help with the stress of the job and recognition of good job performance. “Typically in law enforcement that doesn’t happen,” he said. “In law enforcement you only hear about the negatives.”
Intensive Training
In addition to the focus on customer service within the department, officers’ continuing education is well beyond state requirements. California’s Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training requires that police officers and dispatchers complete 24 hours of continuing professional training every two years. In addition, the commission requires four hours of training in each of three areas: arrest and control, driving and firearms.
According to Camous, officers participate in a minimum of 98 hours every two years, including 18 hours of hands-on emergency vehicle operations training, how to deal with disabled people, defensive tactics and investigating domestic violence. The department conducts four to 10 hours of annual handgun training as well as quarterly qualifications.
Cuts to the department’s budget have made it difficult to send officers outside the department for training, Camous said.
In September, the department received an $8.1 million federal grant to rehire 25 officers. These officers were among the 42 who were laid off in July to fill a budget deficit. “A lot of them have been snatched up by other agencies because of our reputation,” Camous said.
The approach could be paying off for the city — crime has dropped despite cutbacks in the police department. According to department data, the crime rate has decreased over the past four years. Violent crimes dropped from 5,128 in 2007 to 4,110 in 2010; property crimes dropped from 26,111 to 20,148 during the same time.
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