Dec 12, 2024  
2024-2025 College Catalog 
    
2024-2025 College Catalog

LEA 110 - Law Enforcement Academy Part I

29 Credits, 33 Contact Hours
27 lecture periods 6 lab periods
Development of basic concepts, techniques, and applications utilized in law enforcement. Includes an introduction to ethics and leadership, law and legal matters, multicultural issues, as well as community and police relations. Also includes academic and proficiency skill standards required of law enforcement personnel as defined by the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZ POST).

Information: Admission to the Law Enforcement Program is restricted and requires completion of program specific application. Please contact the Public Safety and Emergency Services Institute for enrollment information and assistance.
Button linking to AZ Transfer course equivalency guide  



Course Learning Outcomes
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the history and function of Criminal Justice System and understanding of ethical concerns in law enforcement.  
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of the tenets of the United States Constitution as it relates to the enforcement of law.
  3. Demonstrate competency in the initial investigation of criminal activity.
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of police in the community and competency in interpersonal communication.
  5. Demonstrate initial competency in compiling information and reports.
  6. Demonstrate initial competency in physical conditioning, first aid, defensive tactics and emergency vehicle operations.
  7. Demonstrate initial understanding of traffic-related offenses.

Performance Objectives:
  1. Identify the major components of the Criminal Justice System.
  2. Outline the history of law enforcement and discuss the categories of law enforcement in Arizona.
  3. Identify the chain of command and working relationships between employee and supervisor.
  4. Describe the moral, ethical, and performance standards required of law enforcement personnel.
  5. Identify the sources, manifestation, and stages of stress including techniques for managing.
  6. Discuss or define the basic concepts, phrases, and definitions in criminal law.
  7. Identify the conditions necessary for an arrest.
  8. Discuss the legal components of search and seizure.
  9. Describe the rules of evidence.
  10. Discuss or define common terminology of summonses, subpoenas, and warrants.
  11. Describe the functions, authority, and jurisdiction of the various courts.
  12. Describe the proper procedures and techniques when dealing with juveniles.
  13. Define the proper techniques and preparation necessary when giving court testimony.
  14. Discuss the constitutional rights of the individual.
  15. Discuss pertinent sections of the Arizona Revised Statutes.
  16. Identify common causes of civil litigation against law enforcement officers and agencies.
  17. State the types, purposes, and techniques of police patrol.
  18. Discuss the procedures utilized when involved in a domestic dispute.
  19. Describe proper procedures for dealing with mental illness.
  20. Address the procedures and techniques for handling a crime in progress.
  21. Define the fundamental techniques and tactics used for crowd control.
  22. Describe proper procedures when responding to a hazardous materials call.
  23. Discuss the types and identification of bias motivated criminal offenses.
  24. Identify the responsibilities of the officer at a fire scene.
  25. Discuss the procedures for traffic collision investigation.
  26. Describe the techniques for directing and controlling vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
  27. Identify and define the Arizona Substantive Traffic Law (Title 28).
  28. Discuss the proper techniques for crime scene investigation.
  29. Define the benefits and methods of developing positive police-community relations, with emphasis on cultural awareness.
  30. Discuss the emotional and behavioral indicators of crime victims.
  31. Discuss language and non-language factors that contribute to effective communication.
  32. Describe Spanish language skills as used by the law enforcement officer.
  33. Discuss the concepts of police and community, as well as the philosophy involved in community based policing and problem solving.
  34. Describe the techniques of writing a complete, descriptive, and accurate narrative.
  35. Demonstrate the methods for providing triage and basic first aid to victims of accidents or illness and related safeguards.
  36. Describe the mechanical and safety features of a service handgun, proper methods for servicing and firing a weapon, and demonstrate the ability to meet minimum firearm qualifications.
  37. Discuss the value of physical fitness in law enforcement and demonstrate the ability to meet minimum mental and physical requirements.
  38. Demonstrate techniques for properly and safely conducting all phases of a high risk vehicle stop.
  39. Utilize defensive tactics in maintaining physical control of situations, incidents, and suspect contact.
  40. Demonstrate vehicle operations including basic defensive driving techniques.
  41. Demonstrate pursuit techniques to successfully stop a fleeing vehicle.

Outline:
Introduction to Law Enforcement

  1. Criminal Justice System
    1. Branches of government
    2. Parole and probation
    3. Functions and components of criminal justice system
  2. History of Law Enforcement
    1. Laws of Hammurabi
    2. Mutual pledge system
    3. Magna carta
    4. Peelian reform
    5. Law enforcement services
    6. Statutes and Arizona law enforcement agencies
  3. Management and Supervision
    1. Chain of command and span of control
    2. Problem solving strategies
    3. Working relationship between employee (first-line officer) and supervisor
  4. Ethics and Professionalism
    1. Moral, ethical, and performance standards
    2. Unethical or criminal actions
    3. Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZ POST) purpose and responsibilities
    4. Revocation, suspension and denial of peace officer’s certification
    5. Officer discretion
  5. Stress Management
    1. Stages of stress
    2. Types of stress
    3. Manifestations of stress
    4. Management techniques
    5. Keys to emotional survival

Law and Legal Matters

  1. Introduction to Criminal Law
    1. Alternatives to prosecution
    2. Terminology
    3. Arizona Revised Statues
  2. Laws of Arrest
    1. Misdemeanors and felonies
    2. Officer’s responsibilities and duties
    3. Warrants and discretionary law enforcement
    4. Use of force
    5. Liability
  3. Search and Seizure
    1. Constitutional law
    2. Statutes
    3. Case law
    4. Obtaining search warrant
    5. Exclusionary rule
  4. Rules of Evidence
    1. Admissibility
    2. Direct and circumstantial evidence
    3. Hearsay, confessions, dying declarations
    4. Privileged and non-privileged communications
  5. Summonses, Subpoenas and Warrants
    1. Terminology
    2. Civil process
  6. Administration of Criminal Justice
    1. Time limits associated with each phase of criminal justice process
    2. Nature and purpose of processes in criminal cases
    3. Functions, authority, and jurisdiction of the various courts
  7. Juvenile Law and Procedures
    1. Juvenile justice system
    2. Juvenile rights
    3. Course of action
    4. Custody of juvenile offenders
    5. Procedures of detention
    6. Terminology
    7. Juvenile law
  8. Courtroom Demeanor
    1. Preparation
    2. Presentation
    3. Manner
    4. Attitude
  9. Constitutional Law
    1. Federal courts
    2. Case law
    3. Statutory law
    4. Rights granted under the constitution
  10. Substantive Criminal Law/Title (4, 13 and 36)
    1. Criminal law
    2. Arizona Revised Statutes
    3. Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZ POST)
  11. Liability Issues
    1. Civil litigation
    2. Criminal litigation
    3. Civil rights violations

Patrol Procedures

  1. Patrol Procedures and Observation
    1. Motorized and non-motorized patrol
    2. Alternative methods of patrol
    3. Preparation for patrol
    4. Patrol procedures
    5. Tactical techniques
    6. Patrol patterns
    7. Officer safety tactics
    8. Surveillance
    9. Arresting and transporting
    10. Vehicle search
    11. Preserving evidence
    12. Obtaining assistance
    13. Dog units
  2. Domestic Violence
    1. Factors of domestic violence incidents
    2. Officer authority and responsibility
    3. Victim services
    4. Mediating
    5. Domestic vs. civil disputes
    6. Responding to domestic violence
    7. Safety concerns
  3. Mental Illness
    1. Safety techniques
    2. Referral agencies
    3. Techniques for handling, detaining, and transporting
  4. Crimes in Progress
    1. Tactical responsibilities
    2. Safety precautions
    3. Bystanders
    4. Response and cover
    5. Search procedures
  5. Crowd Control Formations and Tactics
    1. Crowd control formation
    2. Riot control
    3. Procedures
    4. Non-hostile crowds
    5. Safety precautions
    6. Employing chemical agents
  6. Hazardous Materials
    1. Risk and outcome
    2. Specialized assistance agencies
    3. Proper response
    4. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) system
    5. Identification of hazards
    6. First responder awareness
  7. Bias Motivated Crimes
    1. Identifying
    2. Terminology
    3. Investigating
    4. Reporting
  8. Fires
    1. Safety concerns
    2. Hazardous scenes
    3. Safe and effective search techniques
    4. Extinguishing techniques
    5. Securing a fire scene
    6. Vehicle access
  9. Traffic Collision Investigations
    1. Proper procedures
    2. Terminology
    3. Interviewing techniques
    4. Vehicle damage
    5. Recording evidence
    6. Hit and run response
    7. Photograph and documenting scene
    8. Complete collision report
  10. Traffic Direction
    1. Liability considerations
    2. Channeling traffic, blocking or closing roadways
    3. Removal of illegally stopped or abandoned vehicle
    4. Pedestrian traffic
    5. Vehicle traffic
  11. Substantive Traffic Law (Title 28)
    1. Statutes
    2. Arizona transportation laws
    3. Animal drawn vehicles
    4. Vehicle identification numbers
    5. Equipment violations
    6. Speed restrictions
    7. Pedestrian rights and duties
    8. Vehicles other than automobiles
    9. Vehicle load
    10. Vehicle restraints
    11. Lost, stolen, or abandoned vehicle

Crime Scene Management

  1. Preliminary Investigations and Crime Scene Management
    1. Protecting the scene
    2. Identifying the crime
    3. Recording and preserving notes
    4. Search pattern techniques
    5. Crime scene access
    6. Securing the scene
    7. Witnesses
    8. Alternative resources
    9. Data collection

Community and Police Relations

  1. Cultural Awareness
    1. Positive and negative stereotypes
    2. Image of law enforcement
    3. Community service
    4. Enhancing police-community relations
    5. Cultural awareness
    6. Sub-culture
    7. Community perception
  2. Victimology
    1. Emotional and behavioral indicators
    2. Psychological responses
    3. Verbal and non-verbal diffusion techniques
    4. Victims’ Bill of Rights
  3. Interpersonal Communication
    1. Language
    2. Citizen interaction
    3. Non-language factors
    4. Officer behavior
    5. Individual perceptions
    6. Communication with diverse groups
    7. Death notification
  4. Spanish for Law Enforcement
    1. Cultural aspects
    2. Linguistics aspects
    3. Interpersonal transactions
    4. Geographical speech variations
    5. Spanish communication
  5. Police and the Community
    1. Crime prevention
    2. Community relations
    3. Community trigger points
    4. Problem solving

Records and Reports

  1. Report Writing
    1. Administrative and operational reports
    2. Report uses
    3. Characteristics of good reports
    4. Taking field notes
    5. Elements of composition
    6. Proper and improper conclusion

Police Proficiency Skills

  1. First Aid
    1. Good Samaritan laws
    2. Consent
    3. Liability
    4. Body part identification
    5. Body system identification
    6. Vital sign assessment
    7. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
    8. Personal safety
    9. Basic first aid
    10. Methods of symptom description
    11. Triage
    12. Performance and proficiency requirements
  2. Firearms Training
    1. Safety rules
    2. Weapon discharge
    3. Nomenclature of service handgun
    4. Servicing the weapon
    5. Deploying the weapon
    6. Performance and proficiency requirements

Physical Conditioning

  1. Physical conditioning factors
  2. Safe and effective exercise
  3. Effective conditioning
  4. Techniques
  5. Nutrition
  6. Negative contributing factors
  7. Performance and proficiency requirements
  8. High Risk Stops
    1. Communication
    2. Actual stop
    3. Approach and removal of suspect(s)
    4. Control, handcuffing, and search
    5. Clearing vehicle
    6. Directing cover officer
    7. Officer safety
    8. Performance and proficiency requirements
  9. Defensive Tactics
    1. Maintaining physical, emotional, mental control
    2. Elements of force
    3. Levels of control
    4. Sudden custody death syndrome
    5. Defensive tactics
    6. Force matrix
    7. Physical encounter
    8. Inter-personal contact
    9. Cuff and search
    10. Safety
    11. Cover officer
    12. Survival skills
    13. Impact weapons
    14. Performance and proficiency requirements
  10. XXXX.     Vehicle Operations
    1. Factors contributing to accidents
    2. Components of operation
    3. Perceptual performance
    4. Stopping distance
    5. Multi-task and divided attention
    6. Moving vehicle dynamics
    7. Seat belt use
    8. Defensive driving
    9. High risk stops
    10. Performance and proficiency requirements
  11. XXXXI.    Pursuit Operations
    1. Pursuit driving
    2. Liability factors
    3. Pursuit policies
    4. Performance driving techniques
    5. Safety
    6. Driver and vehicle limitations
    7. Moving vehicle dynamics
    8. Performance and proficiency requirements


Effective Term:
Full Academic Year 2018/2019