ThThe Berwyn Heights Police Department employs the highest standards for training. The Agency  utilizes in house training for the Officers in such areas as  Firearms training, ASP Baton Training, Radar Operation and TASER,  just to name a few.  All of these skills and knowledge are put into effect by the Veteran Officers of the Department and they are able to teach these essential skills to fellow officers.  Getting involved in the latest training and  sharpening our  skills not only benefits our agency, but also we as Berwyn Heights Officers can use them to better serve the residents of Berwyn Heights.  To become a Police Officer in the State of Maryland,        One must first complete a basic police academy that meets the standards of the  Maryland Police Training Commission . The Police Entrance Level Training Program is a 21-week, 840-hour course of instruction for members of small and medium sized police agencies.   It is an interactive program where a maximum of 30 recruits are assigned to 5-person training squads for problem-based instruction.   The focus is on student involvement rather than lecture based learning. Incorporating community-policing strategies throughout the training, the course serves officers from municipal police departments, county sheriff's offices, school and campus police, and home detention units.   Instruction includes an 80-hour firearms course that emphasizes judgmental shooting in addition to skill development.   Two afternoons each week are devoted to practical police problems, labs where students, individually or in teams, can develop skills such as interpersonal communication, leadership, evidence collection, photography, fingerprinting, warrant applications, etc.   Once you are certified and hired,   it does not stop there.The  Maryland Police Training Commission requires every sworn officer in the state be provided at least 18 hours of in-service training each year, which includes re-certification in firearms, protective instruments, and instruction on use of force. In addition to the 18 hours of mandatory training, both sworn and civilian personnel are free to choose from many elective courses offered at the Training Academy. These courses run the full gamut of possible subject areas - pediatric life support, fitness and nutrition, sexual assault prevention for women, search and seizure updates, investigative forums, cultural diversity, interviewing and interrogation techniques, motor vehicle accident investigation, etc. Both the mandatory and elective courses are identified and developed pursuant to an annual training needs assessment survey sent to, and completed by department employees.   The Berwyn Heights Police Department utilizes Agencies such as,   the Charles County Sheriffs Office,  Prince Georges County Police,  Prince Georges Municipal Police Academy, Hyattsville City Police and numerous other local and federal agencies to obtain advanced training,  beyond the required 18 hours of in-service training each year.

Officer/Training Pictures