HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — "A Call to be the Best" is what Huntsville Police Department is encouraging as they hosted an open house Tuesday evening, showing people what some of their training looks like.
At Huntsville Police Department's public safety training complex, almost all of the training is practiced in-house.
Kevin Becatti, the main recruiter for HPD, explains, "it's a 19 week long academy. The state only requires 14 weeks, but we want to do extra training, extra scenarios. We get to use our simulator again, just any extra stuff that our training advisors deem needed. We get to do that instead of feeling rushed with 14 weeks and we do it all here. The only thing that we've got left that has to be out of facility is our driving."
A driving track is being constructed at the complex and is set to be ready soon.
In the overall training, individuals are exposed to all types of scenarios and defensive tools.
"Exposure to pepper spray and the taser, it has to be done at least during our academy. We want our officers to know about that stuff before they try and use it on people and understand the effects of that," Becatti said.
These training academies typically happen around late July and in February with applications currently open for the February 2024 academy.
The selection process is about 9 steps before getting to the hands-on training.
"The first part is just doing the basic application and setting up the physical training exam that consists of the push ups, the sit ups, the agility course in the mile and a half run, and then it goes into you got to do the background check, a supplemental application, polygraph, medical, psychological and an interview board. So there's a lot of steps."
Becatti says this comprehensive process is to simply train the 'best' officers.
"I want the best officers out there on the street. That's why I became the recruiter. I want anybody that's interested in this profession to get out there and join the Huntsville Police Department..."
Those under the age of 21 who are interested in getting involved with the department are encouraged to, "join our dispatchers, they can apply to become a dispatcher, start learning the ten codes and stuff like that."
For more information on HPD and their application process, click here.