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(6) identify unstated assumptions—processes that are unequivocally integral to policing. While some may argue that the qualities and dynamics associated with critical thinking may be innate, others suggest that many of the skills associated with the process, such as problem solving, decision making, and effective communication, can be developed and honed as part of the basic police training process (Gaines & Miller, 2005, p. 184).
This is not to suggest that competencies in the areas of critical thinking, problem solving, decision making, effective communication skills, sound judgment, and discretion were not desired traits for yesteryear's police; however, the mindset and expectations of society during earlier times were distinctively different. In general, the public did not engage or challenge the role and authority of its police, nor were the police as proactively engaged with the community as they are today. Whether by design or default, the police of earlier days were generally reactive in nature and, despite working in a hierarchal structure, enjoyed a greater degree of autonomy, whereas today's police are definitively more proactive and are held to a greater degree of accountability. One can certainly argue that by its very nature, modern society creates an ongoing state of tension between the police and the community that they seek to serve. This ongoing state of confrontation requires a redefinition of the skills and competencies required by police and, hence, the methods of their training.
Police Training: Purpose and Implications
Basic police training may be compared to the early imprinting and conditioning that occurs during a child's formative years. Holden (1994), underscoring the significance of police training and education, wrote that “the most important process for ensuring organizational effectiveness is training,” emphasizing that “the foundation of effective law enforcement is based on the quality of its training program” (pp. 279–282). At the risk of overstating the obvious, it is important to acknowledge that police training is generally divided into two essential areas: basic training and in-service, or advanced, training. While the latter is intended to develop