Academy
The San Antonio Police Department is renowned for its diversity and premier training. Our commitment to academics and physical training is vital to the success of graduating first-class officers. The San Antonio Police Academy focuses on three core areas:
- Academics
- Physical Training
- Skills Training
Academics
The main duty of a San Antonio police officer is to protect the lives and property within our community. Training to do so begins with a solid foundation in academics. At the San Antonio Police Academy, a foundation in law, procedures and ethics allows the cadets to build the framework to a successful career.
Our academic minimum standards exceed the requirements of the State of Texas. The challenges of our program are not only routed in knowledge and application but also time management strategies. The skill of balancing all courses and requirements helps to prepare the cadet in a career in law enforcement.
Physical Training
Physical training (PT) is notably the most arduous and challenging skill at the academy. During the first 12 weeks of training, cadets can anticipate a minimum of six hours of physical training each week. In the course of a two-hour PT session, cadets will endure running regimens and CrossFit™ workouts as building blocks for more complex training. From weeks 8-20, cadets will learn strategies of defense in preparation for tactics training and life-saving skills as a police officer.
Fundamental to the PT program is the ability to complete a comprehensive running and CrossFit training program. Developing stamina and endurance is crucial to all facets of training, primarily defensive tactics / combatives.
Skills Training
As a cadet’s training experience at the San Antonio Police Training Academy is nearing its completion, he or she will experience the block of instruction known as “Skills.” This is a five-and-a-half week block of instruction taught chiefly by three groups of experienced officers assigned to the Firearms, Driving and Tactics details.
For four weeks, cadets receive hands-on training in:
- Emergency vehicle operations covering all kinds of road conditions and techniques including high-speed pursuits
- Fundamental and advanced firearms training
- Tactical training that includes everything from traffic stops to breaching, ballistic shield and dynamic entry training
- As training through these skill areas continues, the stress level and complexity of the scenarios increases with the intent of teaching cadets how to function in law enforcement’s highly stressful environment.
The last week and a half of the academy allows cadets to apply the skills they have learned through multiple situations during daylight and nighttime (darkness) conditions in whatever weather happens to be present. This last block of instruction consists of six straight days of application and is evaluated by the instructors and field training officers.
