RE: What Didn't They Teach You in the Academy?

I think the biggest thing I needed to learn on the street was that an arrest is NOT the answer to every confrontation with the police. Learning to talk to people was a key factor in learning that sometimes I could solve long term problems if I listened.

I would really like to gather other hints on what you think should be in an academy. I am putting together our next academy class, and we are redoing it completely. This time, we are looking at it from the competencies end - what skills an officer should have when he graduates the academy - instead of what courses should we teach and make him pass. Our academy is a little different from most in that you have to already be a certified officer to go through it, so we are not restricted to the basic peace officer's curriculum.