What training do Vancouver Police Officers receive?
July 17, 2023
Becoming a police officer requires many hundreds of hours of training.
Washington State requires officers to receive 24 hours of training a year. On average, the Vancouver Police Department provides our officers with 130 hours of training a year.
Officers hired without any previous law enforcement certification must attend the 720-hour Basic Law Enforcement Academy in Burien, Washington. New officers are trained on:
- Criminal law and procedures
- Traffic enforcement
- Cultural awareness
- Communication skills
- Emergency Vehicle Operations Course
- Firearms
- Crisis intervention
- Patrol Procedures
- Criminal Investigation
- Defensive Tactics
New officers to the department also complete a field or “on the job” training program totaling 735 total hours.
Visit the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) and the Revised Code of Washington for basic requirements for law enforcement training.
Example 720-hour Basic Law Enforcement Academy Syllabus.
Crisis Intervention Training
Every new officer receives 40 hours of training dedicated to Crisis Intervention.
Every sworn member receives two hours of Crisis Intervention Training online annually.
The Job of a Police Officer
For more information on how to apply as a police office visit Join VPD.