U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Stephen Cristina Congratulates 169 Police Field Training Officers (January 11, 2007)

U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Stephen Cristina, together with the Minister of Interior Sokol Olldashi, the Deputy Minister of Interior Gjergj Lezhja, ICITAP (International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program) Director Darrel Hart, Police General Director Bajram Ibraj, Police Academy Director Jashar Vreka, and other senior police officials participated in a ceremony to commemorate the first Field Training Officer Program at the “Arben Zylyftari” Police Academy. 169 officers from the Tirana police commissariats 1, 2, 3 and 4 and specialty units within the Tirana Police Directorate were awarded certificates for successful completion of the Field Training Officer course. 

The two-week training designed by ICITAP prepared these Field Training Officers to mentor, monitor and evaluate in practice the new officers from the inaugural Basic Police School, set to graduate in February, before they are certified as solo police officers in the role of a Patrol Generalist.  Such Training programs will continue to take place within the Public Order Police, Zone Specialists, Crime Police Sector, Traffic Police, Rapid Response Units, Eagle Units, Facilities Police, Rinas Airport Border Police, and Special Forces Unit as part of the structured, twenty-week program.

The Field Officer Training Program plays an integral part in the reform and modernization of how the Albanian State Police deliver their services to the citizens of Albania.  Law enforcement agencies that are responsive to the needs of the people they serve, and are thus trusted by the public, are hallmarks of policing in the context of a democracy. 

The training and reformation assistance programs ICITAP has been providing since 1998 have aided in the preparation of a new more efficient, professional and modern Albanian police force.  ICITAP has helped shape the reorganization of the Police Academy Training Program by combining the former three-year academies and the one-year institute into a new curriculum that includes both substantive classroom learning and field training. ICITAP advisors have also worked on the development of a promotion system, recruitment policy, the formation of a Training Division in the Personnel Directorate of the Albanian Police, and have conducted substantial training in data communications and information management, integrated border management, anti-trafficking, organized crime and corruption efforts, human resources management and police accountability.

###