Provide leadership training to all personnel throughout their careers.

Department
Number
5.3
Related Pillar
Pillar 5: Training and Education

5.3 Provide leadership training to all personnel throughout their careers.

SPPD trains to higher standards

The Saint Paul Police Department recognizes that its most important and valuable resources are the women and men who serve our city. The better the department trains and engages its people, the better prepared they will be to meet the demands of policing and serve the community, themselves and their families. The department strives to provide professional development opportunities and encourages employees to seek opportunities for personal growth and achievement.

Recognizing the value of professional development throughout officers’ careers, the department has initiated a program of career development designed to support employees who want to excel in their current job and prepare for promotion, specialization and the achievement of new skills and experiences. 

Reference Data

G.O.254.00

Task Status: Established Practice

5.3 Provide leadership training to all personnel throughout their careers.

SPPD develops leaders

The Saint Paul Police Department incorporates leadership training for all ranks throughout officers’ careers and operates its own Professional Development Institute. 

Task Status: Established Practice

5.3 Provide leadership training to all personnel throughout their careers.

SPPD develops leaders

Beyond basic leadership training, the Saint Paul Police Department command staff meets regularly in an "Executive Leadership Forum" setting to discuss leadership best practices, current events and the department’s role in an ever-changing policing environment. This meeting often utilizes outside speakers and communication facilitators.

Task Status: Established Practice

5.3 Provide leadership training to all personnel throughout their careers.

SPPD believes in continuing and higher education

The Saint Paul Police Department facilitates opportunities for command staff to attend nationally-recognized professional academies, including the FBI National Academy, Northwestern University and the Southern Police Institute.

Task Status: Established Practice

5.3 Provide leadership training to all personnel throughout their careers.

SPPD develops leaders

The Saint Paul Police Department has developed an additional training program specifically for patrol supervisors, focusing on topics beyond the technical requirements of their jobs.  This training focuses on officer wellness by preparing supervisors to recognize and address unhealthy trends or practices, and to practice internal procedural justice for officers. 

The first cohort began in 2017, and the second began in 2018.  When the program is complete, every sergeant will have participated in this advanced training class.  Strong and effective supervision will lead to a healthier workplace and employees and importantly, better outcomes for the department and those we serve.

Task Status: Established Practice

5.3.1 Recognizing that strong, capable leadership is required to create cultural transformation, the U.S. Department of Justice should invest in developing learning goals and model curricula/training for each level of leadership.

SPPD Response

Not applicable for local law enforcement.

Reference Data

Not Applicable

Task Status: Not Applicable

5.3.2 The Federal Government should encourage and support partnerships between law enforcement and academic institutions to support a culture that values Upcoming education and the integration of current research into the development of training, policies, and practices.

SPPD is committed to racial equity

Although a Federal Government action item, the Saint Paul Police Department understands the value of partnerships with academic institutions to better understand policing practices and outcomes.

In 2016, the department partnered with the University of St. Thomas to create a racial equity training curriculum, complete with an evaluation tool to measure training success. The department is waiting on the final report assessing the effectiveness of the program.  

Task Status: Established Practice

5.3.3 The U.S. Department of Justice should support and encourage cross-discipline leadership training.

SPPD Response

Not applicable for local law enforcement.

Reference Data

Not Applicable

Task Status: Not Applicable

Last Edited: March 20, 2017