Cross Training in the Criminal Investigation Division… How Important is it?

Background of Project Organization: Springdale Police Department, Criminal Investigation Division Founded in 1952 191 employees 6 Crimes Against Persons Detectives 6 Crimes Against Property Detectives No cross training program in place at this time in CID

Purpose of Project To analyze the need for cross training within the Criminal Investigation Division as it relates to crimes against persons and crimes against property detectives and to present a solution to the findings of the project.

Research Methods Survey a total of 12 Detectives Interview 2 Sergeants 6 Crimes Against Property 6 Crimes Against Persons Interview 2 Sergeants 1 Crimes Against Property 1 Crimes Against Persons

Detectives Survey How long have you been in Law Enforcement? How long have you been in CID? Is your specialty Crimes Against Persons? Is your specialty Crimes Against Property? How many hours of training have you had in dealing with crimes involving children? How comfortable do you feel working cases that are not in your specialty? How many hours of training have you had in your specialty? How many hours of training have you received in the specialty that you are not assigned to? Do you feel comfortable working a case alone (includes not contacting another detective or supervisor in another specialty during the investigation) in a specialty that you are not assigned to? How open are you to cross training in the other specialty?

Results Average years of service in law enforcement for crimes against persons detectives is 13.75 years and 9.6 years for crimes against property detectives Average years in CID for crimes against persons detectives is 2.58 years and 1.58 years for crimes against property detectives The average hours of training in crimes against children is 71.66 hours for crimes against persons detectives and 3.33 hours for crimes against property detectives

Results Continued… Crimes against persons detectives have received an average of 86.66 hours of training in their specialty Crimes against property detectives have received an average of 40 hours of training in their specialty Crimes against persons detectives have received an average of 50 hours of training in property crimes Crimes against property detectives have received an average of 6.66 hours of training in persons crimes

Results Continued… 83% of Crimes Against Persons Detectives feel comfortable working cases not in their specialty, alone from start to finish. Only 33% of Crimes Against Property Detectives feel comfortable working cases not in their specialty, alone from start to finish.

Recommendations Cross train all detectives on both crimes against persons and crimes against property Use seasoned detectives to conduct in depth in-service for other detectives Have detectives partner up with a detective from another specialty for a lengthy period of time Send detectives to outside training in specialty they are not currently assigned to

Recommendations Do away with specialized detectives and have all detectives remain generalized All detectives work cases involving both property and persons crimes

Benefits Cuts down on the cost of overtime paid when paying additional detectives and supervisors to assist with cases Relieves detectives of some stress associated with working so many violent crime cases, especially crimes against children cases (these cases would be spread out between 12 detectives, instead of 6 detectives)

Benefits In case of a detective being promoted or re-assigned, other detectives will be well trained and able to work cases in either specialty Benefits not only the division, but the department as a whole, as well as the community and victims in which they serve

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