The fine print

Often, the best stuff in the papers is the small print. (from the Herald Sun, 19 Aug 206, "Police miss a boat")

Police recruits are being sent out on the beat ill-prepared for operational duties, a leaked report has found."
...
"The report reveals probationary constables are falling short in basic tasks including conducting preliminary investigations, dealing with domestic violence and court procedures.
.. 14 percent of supervisors believed recruits had a 'lack of emphasis on work ethic, .. and graduates find it hard to grasp the concept of discipline."

And then the strange stuff. It's as if the report writer is afraid to conclude their report from the content of the report.

The report recommends training be revised, but states that overall supervisors and constables believe training meets the needs of the work place.

Huh?

What did Orwell call it? -- Doublespeak.
It's plain stupid doublespeak for the report to conclude that training has to be revised, but that the current training meets the needs of the workplace. If it meets the needs of the workplace, then there is no need for revision.

Police Pay Rally: Officer
Originally uploaded by Devar.

The report states clearly that most of the important functions of the on-street police presence are not adequate. This is an example of why political correctness makes good people leave responsible positions. To quote an old saw: The bad drives out the good.

So if recruits are trained to shoot a gun and swing a baton that's all they need to know? If that's all they're trained for; that's all they'll do.
That attitude gets people killed -- police and the public.
The role of the police is not to instill fear; it is to instill confidence. Confidence in knowing that all citizens will be treated equally before the law at all times. That confidence -- or the lack of it -- reflects on every level of the legal system. The role requires discipline in every action and word at all times.

Ideally, the only contact most people will ever have with the legal system is with the police. An even-handed officer can resolve many disputes. An officer who can only instill fear will only create more problems. Many of those problems cannot be resolved at any other level. A bad officer will only make more criminals, literally. (Cynical Australians will say that is the function of the police. More criminals mean more money for the government. And more police will be hired -- with ever lower standards of training -- to make the government look good at election time.)
The role of the police is not to be hit men or enforcers for the government.
In order to do that, they have to be able to conduct preliminary reports, deal with domestic violence, and conduct themselves before the court in a disciplined and fair manner. These are primary functions of the police on the beat.

Why do people join the police force?

Many will sound a little like disingenuous beauty contestants when they say they want to "make a difference: or "help people", but for idealistic young people, those statements are sincere.
Those who are seeking vengeance should be weeded out by the recruitment process; as should those who enjoy violence.
The use of force -- whether physical, threat, or the courts -- is a last resort. There is no question that there are many situations where an officer is required to use force, and they should be trained physically and mentally to apply that force when it is required. With each violent skill an officer masters, there should be an equal emphasis the judgment required to know when that force is warranted. This is a discipline that is required, not an "extra."

Police training is an ongoing, disciplined process that does not stop until the officer leaves the force, or is off-duty. Seasoned officers who become vengeful or violent have to be removed. If they do not respect the purpose of suspension or leave time, then they must be removed from the service permanently.
Another too well proven saying is that it takes a hundred good ones to make up for one bad one. Hopefully, the training they receive will make them the very best examples even in civilian life.

A point that seems to be missed in the report is that young people crave that sense of professionalism and discipline. Fail to teach young recruits that sense of discipline and judgment, and they will revert to schoolyard thinking: to fear and be feared. Such a police force is nothing more than a well-equipped street gang.
Ask any officer if that's what they want to be. If they answer in the affirmative, it's time to remove or retrain that officer.