Linking Training and Promotion in a Police Agency

Abstract

In late 1993, the Department of Criminal Justice at Georgia State University (GSU) and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Police Department (MARTA-PD) undertook a joint effort to develop a unique system of promotion whereby officers employed by MARTA-PD could advance in rank according to their completion of performance in a specially designed training curriculum. This joint effort was designed to assist in improving overall departmental administration through providing management training and to produce individual scores that could be used for promotional selection. Utilizing a comprehensive job-task analysis, a training-based promotional program was designed and delivered to candidates for promotion. In this research effort, the MARTA training-based promotional system will be reviewed. After a comprehensive critique of traditional promotional practices and an analysis of relevant case law, a theoretical base for a training-based system will be offered. This will be followed by a brief discussion of the results of the task analysis and the construction of the training courses. An overview of the training delivery, testing and list construction will then be presented. Finally, qualitative data on the potential success and acceptance of this program is planned.