The Basic Training Section’s primary focus is the education, preparation, and development of our members to be inspired, engaged, prepared, and motivated to serve our community as law enforcement professionals.
Basic Police Academy
Mesa Police Academy is an accredited public safety training program serving as a training facility through the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board. The Basic Police Academy provides police recruits with training in all areas needed to perform their jobs effectively. The goal is for our officers to recognize concerns, effectively communicate those concerns to all involved parties, and then work to build trust through collaboration to prevent crime, while preserving the quality-of-life standards our citizenry should expect in Mesa. The Basic Police Academy Curriculum consists of 966 hours of classroom, live scenarios, and proficiency-based training.
Post-Academy
The Post-Academy curriculum emphasizes emphasizes Mesa initiatives, administrative responsibilities, community-oriented objectives, and enhanced proficiency training. The post-Academy is an additional 100-hours of training specifically for newly promoted Mesa officers before entering the Field Training Program.
Field Training Unit
The Field Training Unit is responsible for implementing and administering the field training of our newly graduated officers, sergeant candidates, and lieutenant candidates. The Unit ensures consistency and uniformity across the department by standardizing training protocols, evaluation criteria, and performance expectations, as well as through the selection and training of Field Training Officers (FTOs). The Field Training Unit is instrumental for our recruits’ and laterals’ transitional period after they graduate from the academy setting, focusing on structured onboarding and real-world application. Recently graduated officers-in-training are then deployed to one of our patrol divisions as solo police officers.
Field Training Officer (FTO) Program
Each officer-in-training is assigned to a Field Training Officer - a patrol officer with specialized training in developing new officers.
The “S.T.T.M.” Training Model - “Show, Teach, Train, Mentor” is the motto of the Field Training Unit, as it promotes the mentorship and coaching of each officer towards successful outcomes.
The Field Training Program is a 24-week program made up of 4 phases of training and development.
Lateral Transition Program
The Lateral Transition Program focuses on the introduction of the Mesa Police Department’s policies and tactics to seasoned officers who opted to transfer to Mesa. The lateral officers in training undergo the same skills development programs as the Basic Police Academy recruits, focusing on the training techniques and policies of our Department.
All Lateral Officers undergo vigorous hiring practices of our department and is consistent with those hired for the basic police academy. To ensure a potential member meets the department's high standards, an in-depth review of a lateral officer's background, prior job performance, and personal conduct is completed.
Sergeant Training and Evaluation Program (STEP)
Before one's promotion, a sergeant candidate must satisfactorily complete the Mesa Police Department Sergeant's Training & Evaluation Program, which sets the stage for developing the fundamentals of supervision. Successful completion of STEP ensures a sergeant candidate has the knowledge base of a functional first-line supervisor pending promotion.
Lieutenant Education and Preparation (LEAP)
The LEAP goal is to provide lieutenant candidates with instruction, direction, and guidance, over a 2-week training cycle(PDF, 758KB) to develop successful behaviors necessary for effective leadership and management. Each lieutenant candidate will be involved in a coaching/mentoring relationship with a Lieutenant Mentor throughout the program.