The training of probationary officers

Abstract

Over the basic police training, prospective police officers are trained to perform duties defined in the job description of general services police officer. However, regardless of the quality of the training curriculum, the realistic environment could never be simulated in the classroom setting. For probationary officers, there will always be a period of 'adjustment' to the police service. This 'adjustment' period will allow them to get introduced to the field work and learn how to perform assigned duties independently. What we have here is vocational (field) training. The paper discusses the importance of such training in creating a profile of a competent police officer; it offers explanation why mentoring (FTO) is a cornerstone of every solid police training program and how the status of the probationary officer in our police service can come in the discrepancy with the essence of the concept of probation.

Tokom trajanja osnovne policijske obuke kandidati za buduće policajce osposobljavaju se za obavljanje poslova koji proizlaze iz radnog mesta policajca opšte nadležnosti. Međutim, koliko god da je program obuke dobar, učionica nikada neće moći da simulira realno okruženje. Uvek će postojati potreba za periodom 'adaptacije' tokom kojeg će se policajci pripravnici uvoditi u praksu i osposobljavati za samostalan rad. Reč je o stručnoj (pripravničkoj) obuci. U radu se govori o tome kakav značaj ona ima za formiranje dobrog policajca, daje se odgovor na pitanje zašto se u osnovi svakog dobrog programa osposobljavanja pripravnika nalaze dobri mentori, i kako status našeg policajca pripravnika može doći u nesklad sa suštinom instituta pripravništva.