After learning the fundamentals of policing in the classroom, more than two dozen police recruits are hitting the streets to put their new knowledge to the test.
The 27 Royal Virgin Islands Police Force trainees began working alongside experienced officers last week for a month-long attachment. They will respond to reports with the officers and get a feel for what the job truly entails, according to the Police Information Office.
This is the first year a mentorship component has been added to the six-month police training programme in the territory.
“Clearly the laws and theory behind policing must be taught,” Police Commissioner Michael Matthews said. “However, it is in the actual application that the theory becomes entrenched in the minds and day-to-day behaviour of new recruits.”
The programme, he added, is just as much about strengthening current officers as training new ones.
“For the first time, the RVIPF has invested in training 18 serving sergeants and constables for the task of mentoring these new recruits,” Mr. Matthews said. “Mentors are now prepared not only to tutor but to give feedback to the chief instructor on areas of deficiency in the recruit to be dealt with in the final month of training.”
The recruits began their training in March, following a swearing-in ceremony. Their days involved physical exercise early in the morning, full days of lectures at the Marine Centre at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, and night studies to prepare for the next day’s assignments.
Instructors taught the trainees various aspects of law enforcement, as well as Virgin Islands history, Spanish and English for law enforcement and sociology.
Four of the initial 31 recruits ended their training in May and were placed on duty as auxiliary officers.