OR Agency Proposes Accelerated Training Schedule for New Officers

The state agency that trains new police officers in Oregon is proposing a major change to get police officers on the streets more quickly – without changing the requirements and length of training.

A KATU investigation found the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training – the Oregon agency responsible for training police officers - wants to dramatically change how it provides that training to address the 6-month wait for a new officer to start police academy and bring the state in compliance with state law that requires new officers be enrolled in training within 90 days of being hired.

To do so, the agency proposed a $6.4 million plan to add night classes and grow academies from the traditional 40-person class to 60 people. It would mean hundreds more new officers trained over the next two years.

The plan affects no local agency more than Portland; the police bureau is by far the most frequent user of the state academy – which is required for every new police officer in Oregon. Any hire with no police experience must go to Salem for state-mandated, 16-week basic training.

The typical training for Portland officers takes about 18 months until they are on the streets alone, so the 6-month wait for the academy makes the total time closer to two years.