An Offered Program That Takes Care
of Supervisory Training and
Recruit Development at the Same Time

By LT. JAMES L. MAZUREK, Lombard Police Department

Today's demand on what a supervisor should and should not be plays an important role for all Chief Administrators. Everyone would like to have a well trained supervisor but because of budget cuts and costs, time, etc. departments can't be afforded this opportunity. An officer is not born with Management/Supervisory skills. A supervisor is developed over time by training, attending schools, and on-the-job training. Supervisory training should not be taken lightly in that, a supervisor should never become stagnant. New and future supervisors must be molded accordingly, using every possible training, schools, and programs that are made available within the Criminal Justice spectrum. A question that comes to mind is what training programs can be utilized by Chiefs and Sheriffs.

One significant and valuable training program, which is offered "free" to all Police Chiefs and Sheriffs, is the Department of State Police Local Supervisor Participation Program at the Illinois State Police Training Academy in Springfield, Illinois.

This program concept involves a department sending one of their Supervisors, Training Officers or Police Officers to the training academy to assist the staff during one of the recruits Basic 400-Hour classes. This officer will aid in supervising the recruits which will be broken down into squads of approximately ten (10) recruits. Each supervisor will be responsible and held accountable for one squad. The officer will also evaluate the performance of each of his/her recruits in the squad.

In addition, the supervisor will be responsible for daily contacts, inspections, documentation, team building, guidance, etc.

The participating officer will have actual "hands-on" training for a period of ten (10) weeks, during which time he/she will gain considerable knowledge in the following areas:

• Leadership
• Supervision
• Evaluation
• Planning
• Administration
• Inspections
• Decision making
• Counseling
• Communication skills both verbal and written
• Responsibility
• Controlling
• Directing
• Documentation
• Team building
• Physical condition
• Personal Development

Furthermore, the supervisor should have a good self-image of himself/herself, be extremely neat in appearance, have a true understanding of a semi-military organization, be discipline minded, dependable, self-motivated, and possess a high morale and concern towards law enforcement in general.

The daily contacts with the police recruits, staff and civilian personnel plays a vital role towards decision making, scheduling, supervisor/subordinate relationships, directing, motivating and human relations.

There is no cost to the participating department for the supervisor's lodging and meals while at the academy.

During this program the supervisor of the Basic 400-Hour recruit class will be expected to monitor all training delivered to the recruits, recruit behaviors, exam scores, notebooks, recruit personal development, attitudes, recruits effectiveness under stress, recruits compliance with supervision, academy rules, physical condition, and their adaptability to change.

When a department provides a supervisor/officer, the agency will earn one recruit place in a future 400-Hour Basic training class on a no-cost basis.

This program is by no means a ten (10) week vacation for the officer who could just sit back and do very little. This officer will be evaluated by his/her class coordinator for his/her overall attitude, appearance, work, etc. This evaluation is then sent to the officer's Chief/Sheriff as a progress report, which becomes a permanent record in the officer's personnel file.

As one looks at this supervisor/officer participation program one would wonder what advantages are there for my department and my supervisor. These benefits are as follows:

February 1988 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 5

Department Benefits;

• Officer acquires and profits from supervisory and administrative experiences.
• Through participation one recruit will be eligible to attend a future Basic Training class
  at no cost to the department.
• Development of rapport between the local department and the Department of State Police.
• Officer will attend a free Dimensional Training Management Training School.
• Department will take an active part towards recruit training and development.
• Department becomes better educated in the recruit training process.
• Department becomes known and familiar with the Local Training Board.
• Department will become known to the academy staff.
• Department will take pride in the development of Law Enforcement Officers.

Supervisor Benefits:

• Taking an active role and part in the recruit training and their development.
• Personal contact with the Department of State Police, academy staff and the Illinois
  Training Board.
• Officer will be able to attend different classes to refresh his/her memory; i.e., IVC,
  Criminal Law, Patrol Procedures, Arrest, Search and Seizure, Communications, etc.
• Officer will meet members from other police agencies to exchange ideas.
• Officer will become familiar with semi-military surroundings; i.e., inspections, uniforms,
  chain of command and military courtesy.
• Communications with qualified instructors.
• Participates in the actual process of recruit training and development; i.e., reporting,
  scheduling, role playing, etc.
• Benefits in leadership development, decision making, personal communications,
  counseling, supervising, performance appraisals and documentation.
• Development in physical fitness.
• Passing on experiences to the recruits.
• Becomes a role model.
• Making contacts and befriending other officers and civilian personnel.

Being a past Recruit Advisor/Supervisor for the 400-10 Basic Class gives me the honor and right to say that this is a worthy program that should not go unnoticed among Illinois Police Chiefs and Sheriffs.

For one to know and understand the importance of this Local Supervisor Participation Program, one must share in the experience of being involved and becoming an active part in the Police Recruit Process/Training. The supervisor will leave a mark in the recruit's mind where the recruit will always remember his/her supervisor.

Keeping in mind that this supervisor/officer will gain in considerable knowledge and will become a better officer for his/her department, remember, supervisors are not born but are developed over time, energy, schools and utilizing different management programs.

For ten (10) weeks this recruit supervisor will take an energetic part in evaluating, participating, planning, organizing, scheduling, coordinating and reporting. During this time the officer will gain new knowledge and/or reinforce his/her present academic knowledge base in the following categories:

• Leadership
• Decision making
• Supervisor/subordinate relationships
• Supervision
• Communications, verbal and written
• Responsibility and accountability
• Self-development
• Discipline
• Team building
• Authority and control

At the conclusion of the 10-Week Basic Training class this supervisor/officer will definitely have developed a lasting bond with the recruits in the class, the academy and its' staff.

Any department wanting further information regarding this program may contact Joseph T. Dakin, Superintendent, Department of State Police, Office of Training, 3700 East Lake Shore Drive, Springfield, Illinois 62707, telephone 217-786-6902 or the author, Lt. James L. Mazurek, Lombard Police Department, 235 East Wilson Avenue, Lombard, Illinois 60148, telephone 312-620-5955. •

Page 6 / Illinois Municipal Review / February 1988