Senate Bill 978 - Training
Senate Bill 978 - Training
Law Enforcement Agencies: Public Records
On September 30, 2018, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed California Senate Bill 978 (SB 978) into law. The bill went into effect on January 1, 2020 and requires each law enforcement agency to post their current standards, policies, practices, operating procedures, education, and training materials on their website. The full text of SB 978 is available here.
The purpose of this bill was to increase transparency and help educate the public about law enforcement policies, procedures, and training. This page is intended to provide information about Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office specific training; however, those interested in learning more about law enforcement training requirements are encouraged to visit the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) website. Additional information can also be obtained from the California Code of Regulations (CCR), specifically section §1005 - Minimum Standards for Training.
Basic Police Academy
To become a peace officer in the State of California, all newly hired recruits must complete a minimum of 664 hours of training at a basic police academy. In the State of California, 42 different police academies are certified by POST. Of those 42 different police academies, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office has historically sent recruits to the Stanislaus County Sheriff Regional Training Center located in Modesto, CA.
While attending the basic police academy, recruits are tested on a large number of topics, which are commonly referred to as Learning Domain’s (LD’s). Overall, the academy is made up of 41 learning domains which include, but are not limited to: criminal law, patrol procedures, cultural diversity, investigative procedures, report writing, defensive tactics, firearms, leadership, ethics, community relations, police vehicle operations, traffic enforcement, accident investigation, and first aid. The specific LD’s and hourly breakdown can be found here. To graduate from the academy, recruits must attend a minimum number of hours and they must pass three Regular Basic Academy (RBC) comprehensive tests, and multiple scenario-based tests.
Community members are encouraged to visit the Stanislaus County Sheriff Regional Training Center website to learn more about the curriculum taught to the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office recruits.
Crisis Intervention/Mental Health Training (CIT)
While attending the police academy, recruits are taught a wide-range of topics in LD 37 – People with Disabilities. Exposure to information regarding individuals with developmental disabilities, neurological disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, and communication barriers are all covered over a 15-hour period. As of October 3, 2015, Senate Bill 29 (SB 29) mandated, per Penal Code 13515.29(a), that 4 hours of crisis intervention behavioral health training be added to the Field Training Officer certification course. SB 29 further required, pursuant to PC 13515.295, that the Field Training Program (FTP) develop additional training to help educate new police recruits on issues related to mental health.
Continued Professional Training (CPT)
POST requires that all law enforcement officers complete continual professional training (CPT) on a biennial basis. This training includes a Perishable Skills Program (PSP) which includes psychomotor, communication, and use of force training. The PSP training is separated into five different categories:
- Category I – Tactical Firearms (4 hour minimum)
- Category II – Driver Training/Awareness (4 hour minimum)
- Category III – Arrest & Control (4 hour minimum)
- Category IV – Strategic Communications (2 hour minimum)
- Category V – Use of Force (4 hour minimum)
For more detailed information, you can view the POST Commission Regulation requirements.
To find detailed information on all legislatively mandated training, please click here.
To find all POST-certified law enforcement courses actively being taught in California, you can search the POST Course Catalog here. To find the course outline of all POST-certified courses, click here
As a department, we aim to surpass the minimum requirements by engaging in annual Advanced Officer Training. Additionally, we actively seek out relevant, contemporary training to ensure our members deliver the highest level of service to the community.
We are dedicated to the ongoing development of our employees, strongly advocating for continuous improvement. This includes offering additional training that, while not required by POST, is tailored to our department's specific needs. In addition to our internal training programs, employees frequently attend courses provided by other agencies or private companies. The documents below detail both internal and miscellaneous training.