Training Academy

The Frankenmuth Police Department takes pride in the training and qualifications of our Police Reserve Officers. The reserve academy and field training program have been proven to create professional, competent, and highly trained Police Reserve Officers that are unique to this department.

Each recruit enters our academy after completing our extensive hiring and background process. All courses must be completed successfully to become certified to graduate our academy and begin patrol.

 The academy consists of approximately 260 hours of classroom and practical training conducted by certified instructors from the department. This training is provided by the department at no cost to the recruit.

After graduation, the probationary reserve officer is entered into our Field training phase. The Probationary Reserve Officer patrols with a MCOLES Certified Officer to complete practical and hands on training in the field. This training empowers what they learned in their academy to train on patrol tactics, use of equipment, and familiarization with the city and department policies.

FPD Reserve Academy

The FPD Reserve Academy is conducted on weekends over a 5 month period, all on Saturday's or Sunday's during a 9 hour day. This is helpful to keep the academy manageable for those in college or those practicing their current career. Each recruit purchases an academy uniform, consisting of an academy ballcap, uniform shirt, tie and academy trousers. They are also issued their duty belt with the gear needed for patrol.
Along the way they will be issued uniforms and equipment needed for patrol upon graduation.

Each recruit will be trained in all of these phases:

  • Academy Orientation, Rules & Regs
  • Uniform standards & Military Drill
  • Computer Systems & LEIN Certification
  • First Aid, CPR and & AED operation
  • OC/Chemical Weapons
  • Defensive Tactics
  • Interview and Report Writing
  • Use of force / Lethal force
  • Firearms - basic pistol
  • Patrol Rifle
  • Patrol Tactics, Traffic Stops
  • Building clearing & Tactical Entry
  • Crowd Control & Traffic flow/direction
  • TASER certification
  • Basic criminal law & legal updates
  • Night time patrol tactics

Each recruit will carry certifications from state or national certified instructors in CPR/AED, Michigan LEIN, PPCT Management (defensive tactics), OC spray, and TASER International. They will also train and demonstrate proficiency with their firearms under the same MCOLES standards and guidelines required of Certified Police Officers in The State of Michigan.

Continuous Training
Training does not end after the academy is complete. The unit meets for in-service trainings which consist of refreshers and updates in areas such as felony stops, building searches, accident investigation, event patrol, crowd control, as well as legal updates.

Each officer must also qualify with their duty firearm and patrol rifle several times per year in daytime and low-light shooting, and recertify with PPCT and LEIN once per year.

Our Training Facilities and Equipment
The Frankenmuth Police Department has gained a reputation for hosting the most valuable, and hardest to find training academy from anywhere across the state. FPD has established its Reserve Division as a reputable organization of highly trained personnel, capable of handling almost any situation in serving and protecting our public.

To aid in this process, The Frankenmuth Police Department maintains a state of the art training facility which provides:

  • LCD Projector
  • Wide Viewing Screen
  • Computer Projector Interface
  • Laptop Computer
  • Ability to view DVD or VHS media
  • Surround Sound Audio
  • Video Recording Equipment
  • High Speed Internet Access
  • Document Viewer
  • Ceiling Mounted Televisions
  • Room for 60 Students Seated
  • Room for 40 Students at Desks
  • Easy Access to Rest Rooms
  • Full kitchenette & Break Room

Additionally, our academy has outside resources to house our PPCT/Defensive tactics instruction and a full service shooting range for our firearms program. We also have an indoor area for recruits to clean their firearms.