West Virginia State Police Academy
Encyclopedia
The West Virginia State Police Academy is a law enforcement
training
institution
, operated by the West Virginia State Police
, located in Institute
, West Virginia
. The academy trains West Virginia troopers for the State Police force and all newly hired municipal, university police officers, sheriff deputies, motor carrier enforcement and conservation officers from across the state. It is the only law enforcement training school in West Virginia.
The State Police Academy, founded by (Ret.) Captain Charles Ray, held its first training class in 1953. The school sits on 24 acres (97,124.6 m²) of land.
The main compound consists of three buildings. "A" building has two floors that house the male barracks, the director/commandant's office, the assistant director's office and various utility rooms as well as a computer lab. "B" building holds additional offices for the academy staff, and the female barracks on the second floor. Also located in "B" building is the State Police archives and a classroom. "C" building is the location of the cafeteria and two main classrooms as well as two conference rooms and additional office space. On the second floor of "C" building are staff rooms and additional barracks for in service or "sit in" students.
The gymnasium is located in the old hangar building which is closest to "C" building. There is also an obstacle course near the hangar.
The campus does not have an Emergency Vehicle Operation Course (EVOC) area for cadets and basic class officers to practice in simulation of car chases, pursuits and speed driving. Trainees must currently take driving courses on a parking lot and at a nearby local airport
runway
. However, long-term remodeling plans for the academy include provisions for a vehicle training area. Furthermore, in December 2008, the academy purchased a $
108,000 driving simulator that will be used by students to further enhance training. Academy remodeling plans also includes a swimming pool, another gymnasium (to replace the current one) and an indoor track.
The academy also houses the West Virginia State Police K-9 unit
and the Professional Development Center (P.D.C.) which serves as an in-service learning facility for all law enforcement officers.
Basic class students train for 16 weeks. To be accepted for basic class training in addition to their individual department hiring standards, students must be able to perform 18 push-ups per minute, 27 sit-ups per minute and run 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in a maximum time limit of 15:42 seconds. These are requirements established by the West Virginia Division of Criminal Justice Services. Basic class training sessions are spread throughout the year.
Since the academy operates in a paramilitary nature, students are expected to salute ranking officers of the State Police and any other ranking law enforcement officer at the academy. Students often practice marching exercises as well as chanting, running and marching cadences.
The West Virginia State Police Academy is often referred to as "the hill" by its alumni.
Law enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
training
Training
The term training refers to the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies as a result of the teaching of vocational or practical skills and knowledge that relate to specific useful competencies. It forms the core of apprenticeships and provides the backbone of content at institutes of...
institution
Institution
An institution is any structure or mechanism of social order and cooperation governing the behavior of a set of individuals within a given human community...
, operated by the West Virginia State Police
West Virginia State Police
The West Virginia State Police is a paramilitary organization, state law enforcement agency in the United States that provides statewide police services to the 1.83 million residents in West Virginia...
, located in Institute
Institute, West Virginia
Institute is an unincorporated community on the Kanawha River in Kanawha County, West Virginia, USA. The community lies off of Interstate 64 and West Virginia Route 25, and has grown to intermingle with nearby Dunbar...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. The academy trains West Virginia troopers for the State Police force and all newly hired municipal, university police officers, sheriff deputies, motor carrier enforcement and conservation officers from across the state. It is the only law enforcement training school in West Virginia.
The State Police Academy, founded by (Ret.) Captain Charles Ray, held its first training class in 1953. The school sits on 24 acres (97,124.6 m²) of land.
Campus
The academy has four 50-seat audiovisual instruction rooms for classes, a library, a cafeteria for trainees and their staff, a gymnasium, a computer lab and dormitories (barracks). It also has an outdoor firing range that is equipped for rifle training at a distance of up to 100 yards (91.4 m).The main compound consists of three buildings. "A" building has two floors that house the male barracks, the director/commandant's office, the assistant director's office and various utility rooms as well as a computer lab. "B" building holds additional offices for the academy staff, and the female barracks on the second floor. Also located in "B" building is the State Police archives and a classroom. "C" building is the location of the cafeteria and two main classrooms as well as two conference rooms and additional office space. On the second floor of "C" building are staff rooms and additional barracks for in service or "sit in" students.
The gymnasium is located in the old hangar building which is closest to "C" building. There is also an obstacle course near the hangar.
The campus does not have an Emergency Vehicle Operation Course (EVOC) area for cadets and basic class officers to practice in simulation of car chases, pursuits and speed driving. Trainees must currently take driving courses on a parking lot and at a nearby local airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
. However, long-term remodeling plans for the academy include provisions for a vehicle training area. Furthermore, in December 2008, the academy purchased a $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
108,000 driving simulator that will be used by students to further enhance training. Academy remodeling plans also includes a swimming pool, another gymnasium (to replace the current one) and an indoor track.
The academy also houses the West Virginia State Police K-9 unit
Police dog
A police dog, often referred to as a "K-9 dog" in some areas , is a dog that is trained specifically to assist police and other law-enforcement personnel in their work...
and the Professional Development Center (P.D.C.) which serves as an in-service learning facility for all law enforcement officers.
Cadet training
The West Virginia State Police Academy trains its own cadets accepted by the State Police after a five-phase hiring process. Those cadets stay on academy grounds Monday through Friday during the 28-week training period. They can leave the campus on week-ends but are required to come back on Sunday nights to get ready for the following week. Cadets are promoted to the rank of "Trooper" after successfully completing training. To be accepted into the academy for cadet training, State Police recruits must be able to perform at least 27 push-ups per minute, 29 sit-ups per minute and be able to run 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in no more than 14:52 seconds during the initial physical test. These requirements are set by the West Virginia State Police and exceed state standards. Applicants must also pass all the remaining phases during the hiring process. Additional phases include a written exam, an oral interview, a background investigation, a drug screening, a psychological and medical evaluation and a final interview Training for cadets usually occur once a year.Basic class training
Like cadets, all of the state's city, college police officers, county sheriff deputies, Division of Natural Resources (DNR) conservation officers and Motor Carrier Enforcement hirees observe the same academy rules and policies. Their curriculum is shorter but similar in intensity.Basic class students train for 16 weeks. To be accepted for basic class training in addition to their individual department hiring standards, students must be able to perform 18 push-ups per minute, 27 sit-ups per minute and run 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in a maximum time limit of 15:42 seconds. These are requirements established by the West Virginia Division of Criminal Justice Services. Basic class training sessions are spread throughout the year.
Academy traditions
The academy has many traditions that students who attend and often civilians who visit the academy are expected to honor. For example, in each of the main buildings on the academy grounds there is a large tile replica of the West Virginia State Police patch directly in front of the entrance doors. It is difficult not to step on the patches due to their proximity to those doors. Those who step on the patches are sometimes scolded by academy staff members. Students are frequently punished for stepping on it as this is seen as a sign of disrespect. Students are required to clean the patches as part of a cleaning detail in addition to other assigned tasks.Since the academy operates in a paramilitary nature, students are expected to salute ranking officers of the State Police and any other ranking law enforcement officer at the academy. Students often practice marching exercises as well as chanting, running and marching cadences.
The West Virginia State Police Academy is often referred to as "the hill" by its alumni.
See also
- West Virginia State PoliceWest Virginia State PoliceThe West Virginia State Police is a paramilitary organization, state law enforcement agency in the United States that provides statewide police services to the 1.83 million residents in West Virginia...
- List of law enforcement agencies in West Virginia
- Police academyPolice academyA police academy is a training school for new police recruits, also known as a law enforcement academy.-Australia:Larger police departments usually run their own academies. States often run a centralised academy for training of personnel of law enforcement agencies within the state.Police...
- State policeState policeState police are a type of sub-national territorial police force, particularly in Australia and the United States. Some other countries have analogous police forces, such as the provincial police in some Canadian provinces, while in other places, the same responsibilities are held by national...
- State patrol
- Highway patrolHighway patrolA highway patrol is either a police unit created primarily for the purpose of overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways, or a detail within an existing local or regional police agency that is primarily concerned with such duties.Duties of highway patrols or traffic...