The Raritan Township Police Department Command Staff maintains the philosophy that a modern, professional police department requires continual training for its officers.
Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy
Every police officer in the State of New Jersey must successfully complete the Basic Course for Police Officers curriculum at a New Jersey Police Training Commission certified police academy. In recent years, the training has evolved from reactive to proactive, emphasizing community policing and problem solving techniques. The police academy training covers the following topics over a 24-week period:
- Professionalism
- Ethics
- History of Law Enforcement
- Criminal Law
- Motor Vehicle Law
- Use of Force Policy
- Vehicle Pursuit Policy
- Arrest, Search, and Seizure Law
- Criminal Investigations
- Domestic Violence Investigations
- Motor Vehicle Crash Investigations
- Narcotics Investigations
- Juvenile Investigations
- Interviews
- Evidence Collection
- Firearms Qualifications and Safety Guidelines
- Police Baton
- OC Pepper Spray
- Defensive Tactics
- Physical Fitness and Health
- Vehicle Operations
- Radar Operations
- First Aid and CPR
- Automatic External Defibrillator
- Community Policing
- Crime Prevention Techniques
- Hazardous Materials
- Fire Suppression
- Water Rescue
- Decision Making
Field Training Program
Training does not end upon graduation from the police academy. New police officers are required to participate in a field training program that occurs over an additional 8-week period. New police officers patrol under the direct supervision of a Field Training Officer. During that period, new police officers receive training in areas specific to Raritan Township and cover the following topics:
- Township Geography, including street names and business locations
- Critical Departmental Policies
- Township Ordinances
- Traffic Enforcement
- Shift Responsibilities
- Departmental Reporting System
- Radio Communications
Only after new police officers have completed the police academy and the field training program are they given patrol responsibilities in Raritan Township.
In-Service Training
All police officers in Raritan Township participate in ongoing in-service training. Each year, every police officer receives more than 100 hours of in-service training in the following areas:
- First Aid
- CPR
- Use of Force Policy
- Domestic Violence Law
- Vehicle Pursuit Policy
- Criminal Law
- Motor Vehicle Law
- Arrest, Search & Seizure Law
- Firearms Qualifications and Safety Guidelines
- Police Baton
- OC Pepper Spray
- RADAR
In Hunterdon County, training of law enforcement personnel is generally conducted at the Somerset County Police Academy, which is located at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg, New Jersey.
The Raritan Township Police Department operates its own firearms range. The New Jersey Attorney General's guidelines require every police officer in New Jersey pass the qualifications course for both day and night firing of their duty and off-duty weapon. In addition, each Raritan Township police officer qualifies with a 12-gauge shotgun or a long rifle.
Specialized Training
Every police officer in Raritan Township has received training in a specialized area. The specialized training provides our officers with the skills to deal with a variety of issues and preparation for critical incidents. Officers have specialized training in some of the following disciplines:
- Narcotics Interdiction
- Advanced Patrol Tactics
- Crime Scene Processing
- Evidence Collection
- Forensic Computer Investigations
- Bicycle Patrol
- Drug Recognition Expert
- Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus for DWI Detection
- Motor Vehicle Crash Investigation and Reconstruction
- Traffic Safety
- Emergency Medical Technician
- Incident Command System
- Tactical Operations
- Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT)
College Degrees
The Raritan Township Police Department strongly encourages its police officers to achieve a minimum of a Bachelor degree from an accredited college or university. In addition, many police officers have chosen to pursue advanced degrees in a variety of disciplines from Fairleigh Dickinson University, Rider University, Seton Hall University, among other learning institutions.
