Police Training: Breaking All the Rules

In his capacity as researcher and director of the Police Training Institute at the University of Illinois, Michael T. Charles undertook the difficult task of making needed changes to the police training academy curriculum. In Police Training: Breaking All the Rules, he gives the reader an overview of the history of police training in Illinois and follows with a description of the organizational and cultural changes that he helped to bring about. These include discussions of changes in areas such as method of teaching (pedagogical versus andragogical), discipline (quasi-military versus nonmilitary), and fitness training (morning program versus wellness program). The author also describes the steps taken to redefine student rules and regulations regarding an Honor Code and dress code. He outlines the administrative goal of providing recruits the opportunity to learn to follow orders in an atmosphere of mutual respect, an expectation of success, and team effort. Instructional personnel and staff were key to the process of changing the Institute and its culture. The author relates the actions taken to develop standards of quality including a mission statement, goals, and organizational philosophy. As a result of the director’s efforts, the Institute’s reputation for quality training, research, and innovation had been greatly enhanced and is now a leader in police training.