Police Foundations

60 hours

Word & Keyboarding

This is a progressive beginner to advanced level keyboarding course. This course provides the student with training in the touch-typing method of keyboarding, which is the foundation upon which the student can build the keyboarding speed and skill. The keyboard and proper keyboarding techniques are taught. This course also presents the practical application of the concepts and features of Mavis Beacon Keyboarding Software or other similar software. Along with the type skills, students will have an understanding of word processing using Microsoft Word. Students will learn various formatting techniques, how to create tables, columns and other graphical objects using the powerful features of Microsoft Word.

40 hours

Excel

The course provides coverage of Microsoft Excel, Microsoft’s most powerful spreadsheet application to date. At the completion of this course students will be able to create and format spreadsheets, graphs and charts using Excel’s many different functions. Students will learn to sort, filter and link data between multiple worksheets and even workbooks using advanced formulae.

60 hours

Interpersonal Communication

This is a two-part course that provides students with the communication skills, both oral and written, that they will need and use in the workforce on a daily basis. In Part 1, students learn effective interpersonal communication skills for managing personal and work relationships, for gaining voluntary compliance, for interacting with and participating in groups, and for managing conflicts. Part 2 focuses on police memo and letter writing, police note taking and reports, and oral presentations and workshops.

60 hours

Lifestyle Management
Fitness and Lifestyle Management (including CPR and First Aid)

This Fitness and Lifestyle Management course is divided into four parts. Part 1 provides students with fitness and lifestyle knowledge and skills and encourages students to take personal responsibility for their health and well-being. In this part of the course students will develop a personalized diet and exercise program. Part 2 focuses on stress and in particular stresses that are particular to law enforcement. Part 3 provides certification in Standard First Aid and Basic Rescuer (level C) CPR. WSIB authorized providers teach these courses. Part 4 requires students to implement the fitness and exercise program at a local gym throughout the program and should complete a minimum of 260 hours.

60 hours

Psychology

This course introduces students to the world of psychology and helps students apply psychological principles to better understand themselves, others, and human behaviour in general. Topics covered include behaviour, learning, memory, intelligence, development, motivation, personality theory, health and stress, psychological disorders, and therapies.

60 hours

Sociology and Criminology

This course introduces students to the study of both Sociology and Criminology. Topics covered include culture, social structure, interaction and collective behavior, race and ethnicity, sex and gender, politics and government, population and urbanization, deviance and crime, crime analysis, correlates of criminal behavior, and the psychological/ social impact of crime and violence.

40 hours

Contemporary Social Welfare & Conflict Management

In this course students explore the development, delivery and impact of social welfare programs in Canada. Using theoretical and real-life examples, students will analyze contemporary social issues and the impact of social programs on a variety of demographics including women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, and ethno cultural groups. Students are also introduced to the theories and concepts surrounding conflict, conflict management and resolution, crisis identification, and crisis intervention.

20 hours

Professionalism and Ethics

This course focuses on the ethical issues and dilemmas faced by police officers and related professionals. Students will learn to clarify their values, establish a framework for ethical decision-making, and apply techniques to the moral/ ethical decision-making process. Real life ethical dilemmas that relate to a wide variety of concerns in the policing profession are explored and examined.

80 hours

Canadian Government, Politics, Law and Modern Policing

Students will gain knowledge of both the organization and management of the public sector, as well as the structure, function, and powers of the federal, provincial, and municipal governments. Students will also gain understanding of the history of policing in Canada, studies will also include police jurisdictions in Canada, police administration, how police agencies use their resources, and more. Students will become familiar with the Canadian Charter of Rights and the Criminal Code.

40 hours

Federal & Provincial Statutes/Young Offenders

This course looks at the issues surrounding youth and youth in conflict with the law and is intended to provide students with a solid understanding of the Young Offenders Act/ Youth Criminal Justice Act. Topics include the juvenile justice system, contemporary youth crime and public issues, social issues, factors that surround youth crimes, the influence of family, school, peers, as well as juvenile corrections. In addition this course discusses Federal statutes and provides an overview of the major and commonly used statutes.

20 hours

Introduction to Policing

Students will be provided with a general introduction to policing in Canada. This will include an overview of how Police Services operate; discipline, first impressions, professionalism and the types of daily activities in general police officers will be faced with. Students will learn of the hierarchy of rank within various police services and the rank structure. Students will commence the daily entries into their Officer’s Notebooks and will learn the value of proper note taking. They are provided with information about the Ontario Police Applicant Testing preparation and the necessity of physical fitness. The Importance of adhering to the Student “Code of Conduct” will be explained and the reasons for such Code. They will be introduced to the Criminal Code (Pocket Edition), Provincial Offences (Pocket Edition) and the Highway Traffic Act learning how to understand the structure of statutes and be to negotiate these books.

80 hours

Community Policing

Community policing has as its central tenets, the development of police-community partnerships and specific strategies that emphasize crime prevention and problem solving. In the past, police departments asked the community for support, but now the police increasingly ask the public for assistance. This assistance takes many forms, such as corporations and businesses providing financial support for police initiatives, citizens volunteering to staff community police offices, crime prevention programs, and victim services. This course provides students with a comprehensive overview of the issues and challenges faced by Canadian police services and communities as they attempt to develop partnerships to respond to and prevent crime and social disorder.

40 hours

Cultural Diversity and First Nations People

In this course students will learn about cultural diversity in Canada, and the implications of formal and informal multiculturalism for policing. The course addresses a number of social, legal and ethical issues related to diversity and First Nations Peoples.

60 hours

Police Powers and Authority

Using a problem solving approach, this course provides students with basic information about arrests, search and seizure, release and charging an offender.

60 hours

Criminal Investigations, Forensics, and Evidence

This course introduces students to the Criminal Investigation process, forensics, and physical evidence. Topics include basic investigative principles and concepts; the importance and use of police discretion; the role of the patrol officer in preliminary investigation; procedures for validating a complaint; procedures involved in crime scene protection; evidence skills for police; introduction to forensic science; the collection, preservation, evidentiary value, analysis, and continuity of physical evidence; and the investigation of sudden death.

40 hours

Interviewing and Interrogation Skills

This course guides students through the pitfalls and hazards of investigative interviewing, and provides a solid legal and practical foundation for the development of interviewing skills. Often the most valuable and most elusive skills a police officer can develop are those related to the collection of witness information. Frequently, the most important evidence in a criminal case comes in the form of oral testimony; but oral evidence is also the most vulnerable to damage at the pre-trial stage. Memories fade, stories change, and willing witnesses sometimes lose their appetite for disclosure. The collection and preservation of critical evidence at the earliest possible stage depends on thorough and careful police work. Even more sensitive is the evidence of the accused - it must be collected in compliance with constitutional rights to be of any value to the prosecution.

40 hours

Courtroom Procedures and Testimony

This course focuses on courtroom procedures and testimony and provides students with the tools for presenting a case in court. Topics covered include the procedures for bringing an accused to court, the trial, disposition, appeal, classification of offenses, court jurisdiction, bail, interim release, consequences of breeches, rights of the accused, and the duty of the Crown, jury and Ministry of justice.

40 hours

Officer Safety and Protecting the Public

This course introduces students to additional aspects of policing and crime prevention. Topics covered include patrol and general duty policing, police use of force, high risk police work, crime response, and basic patrol procedures for private security professionals.

20 hours

Traffic Management and Accident Investigation

This course introduces students to the Highway Traffic Act and procedures surrounding accident investigations. Students will develop a working knowledge of the Highway Traffic Act, learn to interpret offences, and become familiar with the skills and strategies required for information gathering and investigative techniques used in enforcing the Highway Traffic Act.

20 hours

Private Security Patrol Procedures

Students will be instructed on the fundamental aspects of patrol procedures that security professionals may encounter during their employment. Students will examine common areas that are patrolled and the procedures that take place to secure these premises. Additionally, students will discuss crime and prevention.

20 hours

Career Developments

This course helps students prepare for employment, conduct a successful campaign to find employment, and be successful in their career. Topics covered; community service (volunteer) experience, preparation of a resume, covering letter and thank you letter to use in job search. Please note that students must complete a minimum of 40 hours of appropriate community service (volunteer) experience outside of class hours in order to graduate. Students are also strongly encouraged to begin a personalized fitness-training program at this time. Note that all fitness training is done outside of class hours.

80 hours

Internship

The internship component of the program is the practical application of a student’s knowledge and skills in a work environment. The setting shall be directly related to the student’s program of study. The internship requires full-time day attendance working in the field. The duration of the internship is four weeks, during which the student must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 80 hours of work experience. Prerequisite: All courses in the program.