Department of Public Safety
(Photo courtesy of State Police)
In
1992 the statutory ability to grant authority to campus police was
legislated under the Department of State Police. Having since standardized the training, the Massachusetts State Police have been
charged with basic recruit training for campus police officers.
Early on, several sites around Massachusetts were used by the State
Police to train recruit level campus police officers. Now, the
Special State Police Officer (SSPO) classes are exclusively held at
the State Police Academy in New Braintree.
This recruit training is a modified version of the same training
that Massachusetts State Troopers receive. It is modified only in
duration of the training and excludes or shortens some topics not
crucial to campus police in general. Any exclusions that are
required by the Springfield Technical Community College Police, are
provided after the student officer graduates from the academy.
Academy training lasts for 16 weeks, during which time student
officers are educated on criminal law and procedure, endure physical
training, and establish and hone skills required to be a police
officer. The military-style training that campus police receive in
the academy reinforce team building philosophies,
discipline.
(Photos
courtesy of STCC. Campus Police)
