Academy

• The police academy is one of the main sources of formal training that police officers go through. Officers go through classroom lectures and take tests on the law and procedure, and they also learn hand to hand combat, firearms training, and go through a number of role play scenarios helping them work on their interpersonal and problem solving skills. All police officers must graduate the police academy.
  
  

Socialization

• Informal training takes place in a variety of ways, and one of those is through socialization with other officers in the police department. Newer officers learn how the department fills out reports, how they handle certain situations, and what issues the department considers important.
  
  

Field Training

• In addition to the police academy, many departments also have separate, field training courses that officers have to pass. These are similar to monitored, on the job training exercises which combine more classroom time with actual interaction with the public and the public's problems that officers are expected to solve. This is particularly prevalent in departments with community oriented policing.
  
  

Partnership

• Newer officers are often partnered with older, more experienced officers who act as mentors. By watching their partner's behavior a younger officer will learn the jargon of the department, what acceptable approaches to certain situations are, and the difference between what you learn in the classroom and what you learn on the street is.
  
  

Special Training

• Officers who are made parts of special units, whether it's the SWAT team or a computer investigation squad may receive additional, special training for their new positions. This training may initially take place in a classroom, but the officers will pick up tips, tricks, and social norms from the other, more experienced officers as they go.