Policy & Training Materials
The Police Department’s training and policy materials ensure that all officers respond to situations in a standard way, following industry best practices.
Read the Berkeley Police Department’s training and policy materials below. The Police Department is required to post these documents publicly to comply with Senate Bill 978.
Police Department Training
Before starting their career as a Police Officer for the City of Berkeley, our officers must attend a Basic Training Academy that has been approved by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). Although an officer may attend any POST approved Basic Training Academy before joining the Berkeley Police Department, the Berkeley Police Department sends many of its recruits to the below Basic Training Academies:
- Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Academy Training Center
- Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office Academy Training Center
- Sacramento Police Academy
- Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office Justice Training Center
After graduating from the academy, our officers participate in a field training program that lasts 18 or more weeks—where they must demonstrate to Field Training Officer (FTO) who supervises them in the field that they have the ability to safely provide public safety service to our community.
Once an officer has completed their field training program, their training will continue through quarterly, annual or biennial Department trainings. In addition to this, officers may attend advanced training courses to provide specialized training for unique assignments. View a selection of Department training documents below:
- Blood Bourne Pathogens/Communicable Diseases
- First Aid and CPR/AED Skills (part 1)
- First Aid and CPR/AED Skills (part 2)
- First Aid and CPR/AED Skills (part 3)
- First Aid and CPR/AED Skills (part 4)
- First Aid and CPR/AED Skills (part 5)
- First Aid and CPR/AED Skills (part 6)
- First Aid and CPR/AED Skills (part 7)
- Hazardous Materials Awareness
- Principled Policing
- Tactical De-escalation
- Fair and Impartial Policing
Police Department Policies
The Police Department’s policies outline the steps that officers will follow in response to different types of incidents. The Berkeley Police Department is in the process of transitioning from the existing general orders to policies in the Lexipol format.
You can read the general orders that are still in effect in the list below:
- P-12 POLICE-INVOLVED SHOOTINGS AND FATAL OR SERIOUS INJURY INCIDENTS
- P-28 PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL REPORTS
- V-06 VEHICLE PURSUIT POLICY
Police Equipment Impact Statements
Learn about the equipment that the Police Department uses, including the purpose of the equipment, its impacts, and Department policies and training aimed at mitigating negative impacts.
- Police Equipment Impact Statements
- 2021 Annual Police Equipment Use Report
- 2022 Annual Police Equipment Use Report
- Military Equipment policy
- Use of Force policy
- 2022 ANnual Military EquipmenT Report
Any questions, concerns, or complaints regarding the Annual Military Equipment Report can be directed to the Policy and Training Sergeant at either (510) 981-5974 or via e-mail to sspeelman@berkeleyca.gov.