Training & Recruitment

Training

The Jackson Police Department is one of the few law enforcement agencies in Mississippi that sponsors and staffs their own training academy. New recruits undergo 16 weeks of intensive Basic Law Enforcement Academy Training (BLET) and an Intensive Physical Fitness Program. This training is followed by a 12-week period of field training and then job training and evaluation with a field training officer. Trainees are compensated with salary, benefits and provided uniforms during training.

The Training staff provides and coordinates training for all employees including basic recruit training, in-service training, roll-call training and outside training. Their mission is to allow our officers to maintain proficiency in their skills, and (when possible) extend training to other law enforcement agencies throughout the state. The unit also keeps and maintains training records for all employees.

The Recruit and Training staff’s purpose is:

• To recruit the highest qualified candidates for the Jackson Police Department
• To provide training that will develop and engage each recruit to reach their full potential
• To enable them to contribute to the goal of making the Jackson Police Department the epitome of law enforcement agencies
• To provide ongoing training to all police personnel on relative issues and modern policing philosophies
• To foster community support for the police department through outreach programs such as the Police Athletic League, Police Explorers, and Youth Citizen Police Academy
• To serve as a support function in the Jackson Police Department’s mission of enhancing the overall quality of life for all citizens of the City of Jackson

Training is essential to performance. Successful training both informs and motivates officers, resulting in a force that is confident in its enforcement abilities and involved in finding solutions to challenges. Another important outcome is improvement in cases presented for prosecution, as well as the officer’s ability to testify in court. The Standards and Training Division is invaluable, not only to the Jackson Police Department, but the entire surrounding area.

A variety of outside agencies and entities utilize the department’s firing range and classroom facility for their training needs. While the PALS and Explorers program are geared toward the development of young minds, bodies and character, Standards and Training is involved in many other outreach programs sponsored by the Police Department or other segments of the City of Jackson.

Recruitment

The Recruitment Unit seeks out and screens applicants for employment as police officers and other authorized positions.

Qualifications / Requirements

• Must be 21years of age
• Possess a valid MS drivers' license
• Be a citizen of the United States
• Possess a high school diploma or GED
• No felonies or domestic violence convictions

When applicants are scheduled for testing, written notice will be provided advising the candidate of the testing date.

Required Testing

• Written Exam (Includes Reading, Problem Solving Assessments, General Knowledge)
• Physical Fitness Test
• Background Investigation
• Polygraph
• Psychological Test & Interview
• Medical Assessment

Training begins with the knowledge recruits will receive at the Jackson Police Training Academy. While at the Academy, recruits will draw a full salary; recruits are required to stay at the Academy during the training process.

During the 16 (sixteen) week training period a variety of subjects will be taught, including:

• History and Principles of Law Enforcement
• Traffic Direction and Control
• Report Writing
• Firearms Training
• Defensive Tactics
• Driver Training