In-service training of older law enforcement officers: an andragogical argument

Purpose - Law enforcement officers enter police service usually sometime after their 21st birthday. They often remain in police service until they turn 65. To maintain their professional skills and re-certify their licenses as law enforcement officers, they must complete in-service training hours. The purpose of this study is to estimate the current number of law enforcement officers over 40 years old and to explore possible andragogical solutions to existing in-service training methodologies. Design/methodology/approach - The Police Officer Standard and Training (POST) organizations were contacted in all 50 States in a telephone survey. Findings Police training requirements vary widely between States. There are a large number of older law enforcement officers that require in-service training. This population might be better served using andragogical training techniques. Research limitations/implications - Although this was a nationwide study, there were certain limitations that must be considered. Only State, county, and municipal law enforcement officers were included in this study. No federal law enforcement officers or agencies were included in this study. Originality/value - The findings show the extent and amount of in-service training that law enforcement agencies are required to provide their employees and will be of interest to those in that field.