Firearms Training  Intern Program   Police Training

Training of the Lake County Police Officer. begins with a 40 hour pre-basic class that is conducted by the Northwest Indiana Law Enforcement Training Academy (N.I.L.E.T.A.). The facility is located on the campus of Indiana University Northwest in Gary. They provide a basic overview of the police mission. The new officers receive instruction in crime suppression, crime repression and providing emergency services.

In following the student officer from pre-basic back to the department, he or she will receive an additional 40 hrs. of hands-on basic firearms training. This training is held in the Lake County range and all students are required to pass both a written test and qualify on both the state and department qualification courses of fire. After these requirements are met, the student will be issued their weapon and released to the ride along program or ordered directly to the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy (I.L.E.A.) for 17 weeks of intense basic training.

After returning from the Academy the officer will enter a field-training program that will last for approximately 3 months. During this time the officer will be watched, coached, evaluated and finally released to work the street alone. Additional advanced training (in-service) will be provided to the officer annually on a 16-hour minimal basis. This training to be provided through the 22 in house instructors on the department assisted by classes at (N.I.T.L.E.A., I.L.E.A.) and the (L.E.T.N) Law Enforcement Training Network.