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Police Operations and Data Analysis Report, Morgan Hill, California
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basis. Funding for this position could be drawn from the budgeted funds for a position that
is then vacant.
CPSM recommends the background/recruitment process be included in the Professional
Standards Unit as noted in this report.
Training Section
The MHPD Training Section is under the command of a police captain. Day-to-day training is
managed as a collateral duty by the administrative sergeant assigned to the Special Operations
Division. The California Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training (CA POST) is the
administrative body responsible for establishing the minimum selection and training standards for
California law enforcement. The Training Unit coordinates compliance with CA POST training
standards and MHPD mandated training. The unit also manages optional training requested by
MHPD personnel.
MHPD’s stated training goal is to provide a program that will provide growth and development of
its personnel so the community is provided the professional level of service it expects. The MHPD
training mandates and practices are documented in a written policy and managed by an
appropriate training management system (TMS). MHPD’s training management system is called
Millennium Gold. The MHPD training policy and TMS provide MHPD training and command staff
the ability to schedule, track, retrieve, document, and retain training information in an efficient and
organized manner. MHPD maintains a two-year training calendar that identifies the training plan
for the department. The calendar is an important document, as it ensures that necessary and
appropriate cyclical training is provided. This calendar should be reviewed annually to ensure
compliance with current law and training relevance to department needs is maintained. MHPD
sworn personnel attended an average of 65 hours of training per employee over the last two years,
exceeding the bi-annual 24 hours of continuing professional training required by CA POST. Civilian
employees averaged 11 hours per year. CA POST’s most recent audit of MHPD training compliance
was for the 2011-2012 time period. The audit found MHPD in compliance with state standards. The
MHPD training budget is well-funded and affords officers and civilians the opportunity to attend
most optional training courses requested. CPSM staff contacted MHPD’s CA POST Field Training
Representative. The representative indicated she was new to the Morgan Hill CA POST Region so
she had no input regarding MHPD’s training program.
Field training is universally described as the most important stage in the process of becoming an
independent police officer. During this period, field training officers present trainees with two
challenges: to learn the practical aspects of law enforcement and community service and to
assimilate into the professional culture of a particular agency. The stakes are high for the trainee
and the department, both of which aspire to achieve the best results. MHPD mandates a minimum
of ten weeks of field training post-academy. Policy requires selected field training officers to attend
a POST-certified FTO course prior to assignment. FTOs complete daily and weekly reports outlining
the trainee’s progress. The department FTO coordinator completes three “end of phase” reports.
Upon completion of the training program, the FTO coordinator submits a memo through channels