This policy is issued under authority granted to the Chief Probation Officer.

The purpose of this policy is to establish responsibility for the completion of training requirements as established by the San Luis Obispo County Probation Department and County of San Luis Obispo, State Board of Corrections and any other State/Federal agency as required.

This policy applies to all Probation employees.

1. Employees shall attend and complete training courses as required by state, county and department mandates.

2. Employees are expected to attend all training as scheduled and be on-time.

3. Employees who have any physical limitations, previous injuries, allergies, or any condition that may be aggravated, or exacerbated during training should inform their supervisor as soon as possible and receive authorization to cancel their attendance.  Supervisory staff may cancel their own attendance at a training with notification to their immediate supervisor. 

4. Supervisors are to notify the Training Unit at [email protected] of an employee’s cancellation from a training or the supervisor’s cancellation from a training as soon as possible.

5. Staff requesting course swapping shall have approval of their supervisor along with approval of the supervisor of the staff person with whom the intend to swap courses.  Approved requests shall be submitted to [email protected] at least two business days prior to the course.

6. Request to course swap less than two business days prior shall require approval from the staff persons Chief Deputy.

7. Employees are expected to adhere to department training instructors’ directives and guidelines during training sessions to ensure ongoing learning and a safe training environment.

8. The Department will provide reasonable accommodations, including temporary modified duty, to officers participating in training, in accordance with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act.

9. Peace Officers: 

   1. Officers shall meet the annual training hour mandates as set forth by the Board of State and Community Corrections.

   2. Failure to meet minimum training hours may be cause for corrective disciplinary action.

10. Department Training Administration:

    1. A Chief Deputy Probation Officer will be assigned to the overall supervision of the Department Training Program.

    2. This assigned Chief Deputy Probation Officer or designee will prepare the annual Department Training Plan for approval by the Chief Probation Officer.

    3. A Deputy Probation Officer III will be assigned as the Department Training Coordinator to provide day to day oversight and coordination of the program.

    4. Effective June 30, 2018 (and all subsequent June 30s) Department staff listed in the Annual Training Plan (ATP) will be enrolled into courses by the Training Coordinator.

    5. Annual Review of Department Training Plan:

       1. The Department Training Coordinator will send the Management Team the current year ATP for a review during the first week of January.

       2.  The review and revisions of the Department Training Plan for the following fiscal year will be returned to the Training Coordinator by February 14. 

       3. By March 1, the Department Training Coordinator will finalize the Annual Training Plan, enter into TMS and publish it to Department staff.

11. Appointment of Instructor(s):

    1. The Department may assign SDPOs / DPO IIIs / JSO IIIs to be instructors based upon need. 

    2.  Line-level DPOs / JSOs:

       1. By the third Friday in each January the Probation Department Training Manager will send a list to PR_Sworn of available training positions for the coming fiscal year and also all other training positions.

       2. DPOs / JSOs interested in filling one of the available training instructor positions or other training positions will submit Request to be Department Instructor Form (attachment A) to their supervisor.

       3. The Supervisor will make a recommendation to their Chief Deputy.

       4. The Chief Deputy will bring recommendation to the Management Team for approval of the officer’s request.

       5. Approved line-level DPOs/JSOs will serve as a department instructor for a minimum of 3 years unless otherwise specified.  If a trainer wishes to serve beyond the 3-year commitment, the commitment will be 2 years thereafter.

       6. The Probation Department Training Manager will keep a list of all current training instructors and a list of officers who have requested to be instructors but have yet to be assigned a training class.

    3. Designation of Lead Instructor(s):

       1. The Assistant Chief Probation Officer will determine the need for lead instructors.

    4. Duties of Lead Instructor(s) include the following:

       1. Develop and modify lesson plans as needed.

       2. Enforce training safety rules, regulations and maintain control of training environment during instruction.

       3. Ensure instructors demonstrate and instruct properly in the use of specific skills, methods and techniques.

       4. Plan and ensure completion of remedial training.

       5. Maintain certification and proficiency in training subject area.

       6. Develop new training techniques/outcomes/goals in coordination with the Training Coordinator thereafter.

This policy will remain in effect until superseded or suspended in writing by the Chief Probation Officer and can be reviewed as needed.