Basic Police Officer Certificate of Achievement
Table of Contents: Item Page Number Table of Contents 2 Appropriateness To Mission 3-5 Need 6-8 Curriculum Standards 9 Adequate Resources 9 Compliance 9 Page 2 of 10
APPROPRIATENESS TO MISSION 1. Goals and Objectives The College of the Desert s Basic Police Officer Certificate of Achievement: Will help prepare current and future law enforcement professionals for the dynamic challenges of succeeding in a field of law enforcement. Will help students develop a sense of the basic requirements for success in the future. Allows students to complete the Certificate program while working part or full-time, with courses offered during weekend days, and lab and lecture courses of instruction and manipulative skills training and evaluations weekday evenings. 2. Catalog Description The Certificate as a Basic Police Officer is designed to serve students seeking either to enter or enhance their careers in the law enforcement profession. The courses in the Certificate program will provide the foundational knowledge for a person to enter the profession of law enforcement as a level-i reserve officer or a full-time police officer. Page 3 of 10
3. Program Requirements Required Courses: BPOT-063 Course Number Title # of Units xxxx BPOT-063 BASIC PCE OFCR M-I 16.5 Total 16.5Units/492 Hours Administration Of Justice Class Required: Any 1 course from the following: o AJ-001 o AJ-002 o AJ-003 o AJ-004 Introduction to Administration of Justice(3units) Criminal Law(3units) Evidence(3units) Criminal Procedures(3units) o AJ-005A Multicultural Issues(3units) o AJ-006 Principles of investigation (3units) Work Experience (Optional, in place of Administration of Justice): (3units) Certificate Total: 19.5Units Page 4 of 10
4. Background and Rationale The Basic Police Officer Certificate of Achievement will allow successful graduates of the Module-I Basic Peace Officer Training to satisfy 15 elective units of the Administration of Justice degree requirements while recognizing the student s desire for success. If the Police Science Associates Degree is approved, the Certificate will allow successful graduates of the Module-I Basic Peace Officer Training to satisfy 19.5 core units of that degree requirement and provide the opportunity to pursue an Associate Degree. The Basic Police Officer Certificate of Achievement will allow successful graduates of the Module-I Basic Peace Officer Training to have a high-rate of success in a short period of time. The Basic Police Officer Certificate of Achievement will allow successful graduates of the Module-I Basic Peace Officer Training to be eligible for employment as a Level-I reserve police officer or a full-time police officer with state or local law enforcement agencies rapidly and smoothly. The Basic Police Officer Certificate of Achievement will allow successful graduates of the Module-I Basic Peace Officer Training the opportunity to enhance their hiring potential and showcase the Certificate on their resumes when seeking employment. Page 5 of 10
NEED 5. Enrollment and Completer Projections All of the courses in this Certificate already exist at College of the Desert with steady enrollments. We anticipate that the new Certificate of Achievement will increase these enrollments by offering students a new career pathway more closely related to the law enforcement profession. Since 2008, College of the Desert has averaged approximately 18 completers annually of the existing courses that will make up the program. An existing advisory committee is made up of local law enforcement executives representative of State, County, and City agencies. This close relationship with public safety industry professionals will enhance opportunities for learning and working in the law enforcement field. The Certificate of Achievement is intended to represent more than an accumulation of units. Listing of the Certificate of Achievement on a student transcript symbolizes successful completion of patterns of learning experiences designed to develop specified knowledge, skills, and abilities that may be oriented to a career or general education. 6. Place of Program in the Curriculum College of the Desert currently offers an Associate of Science degree in Administration of Justice. The new Certificate of a Basic Police Officer will offer an additional pathway for students where they can achieve proficiency in an area of emphasis and then follow a pathway into industry or continue with their studies to earn further degrees. 7. N/A 8. Labor Market Information & Analysis Page 6 of 10
The Coachella Valley is a desert region about 40 miles east of Riverside, just off Interstate 10. The area is anchored by Palm Springs. But over the past three decades, the new communities of Indio, Cathedral City, Indian Wells, La Quinta and Rancho Mirage have surpassed Palm Springs in population and commerce. Because of its yearround warm climate, the area has been among the top five regions in the United States for growth and development and continues rapid growth despite the economic downturn. According to the California Employment Development Office of Labor Market Info, for the Law Enforcement occupation from 2008-2018, there is a 14.7% projected increase in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario Metropolitan-Imperial Valley areas, which amounts to 2,080 new jobs in this occupational field with an annual median salary of $70,785 a year. According to the California Employment Development Office of Labor Market Info, there are currently 1,990 job openings for Police and Sheriff Patrol Officers in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario Metropolitan areas. Attachment A: Labor/Job Market Data 9. Employer Survey A survey was conducted using a questionnaire that was sent out to the local Chiefs of police/local advisory committee via email. After completion the surveys were emailed, faxed, or mailed back. Seven employers were surveyed with seven responses. The specific titles of the jobs covered by the survey include Police Reserve Certificate of Achievement, Basic Police Officer Certificate of Achievement, and Police Science Associates Degree. 100+ new openings are anticipated in the next five years. The employers believe that the program would qualify students for specific positions and they would preferentially hire students who have completed the program. Attachment B: Employer Survey 10. Explanation of Employer Relationship An existing advisory committee is made up of local law enforcement executives representative of State, County, and City agencies. This close relationship with public safety industry professionals will enhance opportunities for learning and working in the law enforcement field. 11. List of Members of Advisory Committee Page 7 of 10
1) Frank Coe, Chief of Police, Beaumont Police Department 2) Kevin Conner, Chair, Chief of Police, Cathedral City Police Department 3) Richard Coz, Vice Chair, Captain, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center 4) Al Franz, Interim Chief of Police, Palm Springs Police Department 5) Leonard Purvis, Chief of Police, Banning Police Department 6) Bradley Ramos, Chief of Police, Indio Police Department 7) Steve Smith, Chief of Police, Blythe Police Department 8) Stan Sniff, Sheriff, Riverside County Sheriff s Department 9) Sherrell Sutherland, Captain, California Highway Patrol, Indio Area 10) Patrick Williams, Chief of Police, Desert Hot Springs Police Department Attachment C: List of Advisory Committee 12. Recommendations of Advisory Committee The Advisory Committee members expressed positive and optimistic support of the College of the Desert s-public Safety Academy agenda items and program direction as it relates to establishing Certificates of Achievements and a Police Science Associate of Science Degree. Attachment C: Documented recommendations of Advisory Committee Attachment C: Minutes of Key Meetings Page 8 of 10
CURRICULUM STANDARDS BASIC POLICE OFFICER CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT # of Units 1. BPOT-063 BASIC PEACE OFFICER M-I 16.5 Units (Prerequisite: Successful Completion of BPOT-062) 2. Completion of (3) Units of Administration of Justice 3 Units OR 3. Work Experience 3 Units CERTIFICATE TOTAL: 19.5 Units Attachment D-2: Outlines of Record ADEQUATE RESOURCES All of the courses in this Certificate already exist at College of the Desert. The increased enrollment expected with the Basic Police Officer Certificate of Achievement, Reserve Police Officer Certificate of Achievement, and Police Science Associate Degree will boost these existing courses. No new facilities, faculty, equipment, or library resources are needed. Page 9 of 10
COMPLIANCE The program is free from conflict with current state or federal statutes and regulations. It meets the five standards of approval criteria for courses and programs, Appropriateness of Mission, Need, Quality, Feasibility, and Compliance. Page 10 of 10