Municipal Police Training Council

The Municipal Police Training Council sets the requirements for statutorily mandated police and peace officer basic training in New York State; establishes minimum training standards for in-service training that employers of police officers, peace officers and county correction officers provide at their discretion; establishes police and peace officer instructor certifications; and develops model policies that provide guidance and support to law enforcement agencies, among other responsibilities.

This video provides an overview of the New York State Basic Course for Police Officers and how it trains recruits to develop their critical thinking, decision-making, communication, and other essential skills to perform the job of police officer in the 21st Century. All municipal police recruits must successfully complete the Basic Course within one year of their appointment.

The Council’s duties and membership are detailed in state Executive Law Article 35 Sections 839, 840 and 841.

The state Division of Criminal Justice Services provides staff support to the Council, which has 10 members, each of whom serves a two-year term. A member whose term has expired remains on the council until they are reappointed, or a replacement is named.

(as of July 2024)

Robert Maciol, Chair

Sheriff, Oneida County

Oneida County

Term Ends: 3/31/2025

Maureen Curtis

Vice President, Safe Horizon

Rockland County

Term Expires: 3/31/2023

Debra Long

Community Member

Dutchess County

Term Expires: 3/31/2025

R. Bruce McBride, Ed.D.

Adjunct Professor, Utica University

Albany County

Term Expires: 3/31/2023

John Mueller

Chief, Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Westchester County

Term Expires: 3/31/2025

Opal Rivera

Assistant Commissioner, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision

Albany County

Term Expires: 3/31/2025

Errol David Toulon Jr., Ed.D.

Sheriff, Suffolk County

Suffolk County

Term Expires:  3/31/2023

Ex-Officio

Steven G. James

Superintendent, New York State Police

Schenectady County

Olufunmilola Obe

Chief of Training, New York City Police Department

New York County

Note: Appointment upon recommendation of the Police Commissioner

State law requires representation from the following on the Council:

• A full-time faculty member of a college or university who teaches criminal justice or police science
• An incumbent sheriff with law enforcement training experience
• An incumbent municipal police chief with law enforcement training experience
• The New York City Police Department commissioner or member of that department
• The New York State Police superintendent
• An incumbent chief or commissioner of a municipal police department with more than 100 officers
• An incumbent sheriff whose office employs more than 100 deputy sheriffs
• An individual representing the interests of victims of crime
• An individual from a community with high numbers of police and community interactions
• An executive from an agency or municipality that employs peace officers

New York State Executive Law Article 35 Sections 839, 840 and 841.

§ 839. Municipal police training council. 1. There is hereby created
within the division a municipal police training council composed of ten
members, who shall be selected as follows:

(a) one shall be appointed by the governor who shall be a full-time
faculty member of a college or university who teaches in the area of
criminal justice or police science;

(b) one shall be appointed by the governor from a list of at least six
nominees submitted by the New York state sheriffs' association, who
shall be incumbent sheriffs in the state having at least two years of
service on the law enforcement training committee of such association or
having other specialized experience in connection with police training
which, in the opinion of the chairman of such law enforcement training
committee, provides the sheriff with at least an equivalent background
in the field of police training; and

(c) one shall be appointed by the governor from a list of at least six
nominees submitted by the New York state association of chiefs of
police, who shall be incumbent chiefs of police or commissioners of
police of a municipality in the state having at least two years of
service on the police training committee of such association or having
other specialized experience in connection with police training which,
in the opinion of the chairman of such training committee, provides the
chief of police or commissioner of police with at least an equivalent
background in the field of police training; and

(d) one shall be the commissioner of police of the city of New York or
a member of his department, designated by such commissioner and approved by the governor; and

(e) one shall be the superintendent of the state police; and

(f) one shall be appointed by the governor who shall be an incumbent
chief of police or commissioner of police from a municipality in the
state with a police department consisting of more than one hundred
officers; and

(g) one shall be appointed by the governor who shall be an incumbent
sheriff in the state from an agency with more than one hundred deputy
sheriffs; and

(h) one shall be appointed by the governor who shall be a
representative of victims of crime; and

(i) one shall be appointed by the governor who shall be a
representative from a community with high numbers of police and
community interactions; and

(j) one shall be appointed by the governor who shall be an incumbent
executive from a peace officer employing agency or municipality.

2. The governor shall designate from among the members of the council
a chairman who shall serve during the pleasure of the governor.

3. All members of the council appointed by the governor shall be
appointed for terms of two years, such terms to commence on April first,
and expire on March thirty-first. Any member chosen to fill a vacancy
created otherwise than by expiration of term shall be appointed for the
unexpired term of the member whom he is to succeed. Vacancies caused by expiration of a term or otherwise shall be filled in the same manner as
original appointments. Any member may be reappointed for additional
terms.

4. Any member of the council appointed pursuant to paragraphs (b) or
(c) of subdivision one of this section as an incumbent sheriff, chief of
police or commissioner of police, as the case may be, shall immediately
upon the termination of his holding of said office or employment, cease
to be a member of the council.

5. The council shall meet at least four times in each year. Special
meetings may be called by the chairman and shall be called by him at the
request of the governor or upon the written request of six members of
the council. The council may establish its own requirements as to quorum
and its own procedures with respect to the conduct of its meetings and
other affairs; provided, however, that all recommendations made by the
council to the governor pursuant to subdivision one of section eight
hundred forty of this chapter shall require the affirmative vote of six
members of the council.

6. Membership on the council shall not constitute the holding of an
office, and members of the council shall not be required to take and
file oaths of office before serving on the council. The council shall
not have the right to exercise any portion of the sovereign power of the
state.

7. The members of the council shall receive no compensation for their
services but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
incurred in the performance of their functions hereunder.

8. No member of the council shall be disqualified from holding any
public office or employment, nor shall he forfeit any such office or
employment, by reason of his appointment hereunder, notwithstanding the
provisions of any general, special or local law, ordinance or city
charter.

§ 840. Functions, powers and duties of council. 1. The council may
recommend to the governor rules and regulations with respect to:

(a) The approval, or revocation thereof, of police training schools
administered by municipalities;

(b) Minimum courses of study, attendance requirements, and equipment
and facilities to be required at approved municipal police training
schools;

(c) Minimum qualifications for instructors at approved police training
schools;

(d) The requirements of minimum basic training which police officers
appointed to probationary terms shall complete before being eligible for
permanent appointment, and the time within which such basic training
must be completed following such appointment to a probationary term;

(e) The requirements of minimum basic training which police officers
not appointed for probationary terms but appointed on other than a
permanent basis shall complete in order to be eligible for continued
employment or permanent appointment, and the time within which such
basic training must be completed following such appointment on a
non-permanent basis;

(f) The requirements of minimum basic training which peace officers
must complete before being eligible for certification as peace officers,
pursuant to section 2.30 of the criminal procedure law;

(g) Categories or classifications of advanced in-service training
programs and minimum courses of study and attendance requirements with respect to such categories or classifications; and

(i) The establishment, in cooperation with the division of state
police, of a formalized consumer product tampering training program for
all law enforcement personnel.

(j) (1) Development, maintenance and dissemination of written policies
and procedures pursuant to title six of article six of the social
services law and applicable provisions of article ten of the family
court act, regarding the mandatory reporting of child abuse or neglect,
reporting procedures and obligations of persons required to report,
provisions for taking a child into protective custody, mandatory
reporting of deaths, immunity from liability, penalties for failure to
report and obligations for the provision of services and procedures
necessary to safeguard the life or health of the child; (2)
establishment and implementation on an ongoing basis, of a training
program for all current and new police officers regarding the policies
and procedures established pursuant to this paragraph; and (3)
establishment of a training program for police officers whose main
responsibilities are juveniles and the laws pertaining thereto,
including children under twelve years of age who do not fall under the
definition of juvenile delinquent pursuant to subparagraph (iii) of
paragraph (a) of subdivision one of section 301.2 of the family court
act and whose behavior, but for their age would bring them within the
jurisdiction of the family court pursuant to article three of the family
court act, which training program shall be successfully completed before
such officers are accredited pursuant to section eight hundred
forty-six-h of this chapter.

(k) Development, maintenance and dissemination, in consultation with
the department of agriculture and markets, of written policies and
procedures pursuant to animal cruelty and protection laws, including,
but not limited to, article twenty-six of the agriculture and markets
law, section 352.3 of the family court act as it applies to companion
animals, and applicable provisions of the penal law, regarding the
investigation and prevention of any act of cruelty to animals. The
council shall make provisions in such policies and procedures for the
education and training in enforcement of such animal cruelty and
protection laws.

(l) Exemptions from particular provisions of this article in the case
of peace officers appointed by the superintendent of state police if in
its opinion the standards of peace officer training provided by the
division of state police exceed those established pursuant to this
article.

(m) Establishment and implementation on an ongoing basis, of a
training program for all current and new police officers and peace
officers regarding the policies and procedures established pursuant to
paragraph (k) of this subdivision.

2. The council shall promulgate, and may from time to time amend, such
rules and regulations prescribing height, weight, physical fitness and
psychological requirements for eligibility of persons for provisional or
permanent appointment in the competitive class of the civil service as
police officers of any county, city, town, village or police district as
it deems necessary and proper for the efficient performance of police
duties.

2-a. The council, in consultation with the state commission of
correction, shall promulgate rules and regulations with respect to:

(a) The approval, or revocation thereof, of basic and other
correctional training programs administered by municipalities;

(b) Minimum courses of study, attendance requirements, and equipment
and facilities to be required at approved basic and other correctional
training programs;

(c) Minimum qualifications for instructors at approved basic and other
correctional training programs; and

(d) The requirements of a minimum basic correctional training program
required by subdivision nine of section eight hundred thirty-seven-a of
this article.

2-b. The council shall promulgate, and may from time to time amend,
such rules and regulations concerning background investigations for
eligibility of persons for provisional or permanent appointment in the
competitive class of the civil service as police officers of any county,
city, town, village or police district as it deems necessary and proper
for the efficient performance of police duties, which shall be
incorporated by the law enforcement agency accreditation council as part
of the certification process in paragraph (d) of subdivision one of
section eight hundred forty-six-h of this chapter.

3. The council shall, in addition: (a) Consult with, advise and make
recommendations to the commissioner with respect to the exercise of his
or her functions, powers and duties as set forth in section eight
hundred forty-one of this article;

(b) Recommend studies, surveys and reports to be made by the
commissioner regarding the carrying out of the objectives and purposes
of this section;

(c) Visit and inspect any police training school and correctional
training programs approved by the commissioner or for which application
for such approval has been made;

(d) Make recommendations, from time to time, to the commissioner, the
governor and the legislature, regarding the carrying out of the purposes
of this section;

(e) Perform such other acts as may be necessary or appropriate to
carry out the functions of the council;

(f) Develop, maintain and disseminate, in consultation with the state
office for the prevention of domestic violence, written policies and
procedures consistent with article eight of the family court act and
applicable provisions of the criminal procedure and domestic relations
laws, regarding the investigation of and intervention by new and veteran
police officers in incidents of family offenses. Such policies and
procedures shall make provisions for education and training in the
interpretation and enforcement of New York's family offense laws,
including but not limited to:

(1) intake and recording of victim statements, and the prompt
translation of such statements if made in a language other than English,
in accordance with subparagraph three of this paragraph, on a
standardized "domestic violence incident report form" promulgated by the
division of criminal justice services in consultation with the
superintendent of state police, representatives of local police forces
and the state office for the prevention of domestic violence, and the
investigation thereof so as to ascertain whether a crime has been
committed against the victim by a member of the victim's family or
household as such terms are defined in section eight hundred twelve of
the family court act and section 530.11 of the criminal procedure law;
and

(2) the need for immediate intervention in family offenses including
the arrest and detention of alleged offenders, pursuant to subdivision
four of section 140.10 of the criminal procedure law, and notifying
victims of their rights, in their native language, if identified as
other than English, in accordance with subparagraph three of this
paragraph, including but not limited to immediately providing the victim
with the written notice required in subdivision six of section 530.11 of
the criminal procedure law and subdivision five of section eight hundred
twelve of the family court act;

(3) determine, in consultation with the superintendent of state police
and the office for the prevention of domestic violence, the languages in
which such translation required by subparagraph one of this paragraph,
and the notification required by subparagraph two of this paragraph,
shall be provided. Such determination shall be based on the size of the
New York state population that speaks each language and any other
relevant factor. Such written notice required pursuant to subparagraph
two of this paragraph shall be made available to all local law
enforcement agencies throughout the state. Nothing in this paragraph
shall prevent the council from using the determinations made by the
superintendent of state police pursuant to subdivision (c) of section
two hundred fourteen-b of this chapter;

(f-1) Develop, maintain and disseminate, in consultation with the
office of temporary and disability assistance and the division of
criminal justice services, written policies and procedures regarding
human trafficking victims. Such policies and procedures shall include,
but not be limited to the following: (1) the identification of potential
victims of human trafficking, as defined under section four hundred
eighty-three-aa of the social services law; and (2) information and/or
referral to appropriate social and legal services for victims of human
trafficking in accordance with section four hundred eighty-three-bb of
the social services law;

(g) Develop, maintain and disseminate, in consultation with the state
division of human rights and the state civil service department, written
policies and procedures to enhance police and correctional officer
recruitment efforts and to increase police and correctional officer
awareness of racial, ethnic, religious and gender differences, and other
diversity issues, in communities served by such police and in
correctional facilities;

(h) Consult with the state commission of correction regarding
correctional training programs; and

(i) Develop, maintain and disseminate written policies and procedures
and educational materials regarding the availability of and procedure
for filing extreme risk protection orders under article sixty-three-A of
the civil practice law and rules, including the requirements for police
officers under section six thousand forty-one of such article,
appropriately instruct any agency that employs police or peace officers
regarding article sixty-three-A of the civil practice law and rules.

4. The council shall, in addition:

(a) Develop, maintain and disseminate, in consultation with rape
crisis centers experienced in assisting victims in this state, written
policies and procedures consistent with applicable provisions of the
family court act, domestic relations law, criminal procedure law and the
penal law, regarding the investigation of and intervention by new and
veteran police officers in crimes involving sexual assault. Such
policies and procedures shall make provisions for education and training
of new and veteran police officers in the investigation and enforcement
of crimes involving sexual assault under state law, including but not
limited to:

(1) techniques for interviewing sexual assault victims,

(2) fair treatment standards for crime victims pursuant to article
twenty-three of this chapter,

(3) evidence gathering and evidence preservation, and

(4) dissemination of information concerning availability of local
services for the victims of such crimes; and

(b) Recommend to the governor, rules and regulations with respect to
establishment and implementation on an ongoing basis of a training
program for all current and new police officers regarding the policies
and procedures established pursuant to this subdivision, along with
recommendations for periodic retraining of police officers.

(c) Disseminate the written policies and procedures promulgated in
accordance with subdivision twenty-one of section eight hundred
thirty-seven of this article to all police departments in this state and
implement a training program for all current and new police officers
regarding the policies and procedures established pursuant to such
subdivision.

(d)(1) Establish and regularly update a model law enforcement use of
force policy suitable for adoption by any agency that employs police or
peace officers.

(2) The model law enforcement use of force policy shall include, but
is not limited to:

(i) information on current law as it relates to the use of force by
police and peace officers;

(ii) guidelines regarding when use of force is permitted;

(iii) requirements for documenting use of force;

(iv) procedures for investigating use of force incidents;

(v) guidelines regarding excessive use of force including duty to
intervene, reporting, and timely medical treatment for injured persons;

(vi) standards for failure to adhere to use of force guidelines;

(vii) training mandates on use of force, conflict prevention, conflict
resolution and negotiation, de-escalation techniques and strategies,
including, but not limited to, interacting with persons presenting in an
agitated condition; and

(viii) prohibited uses of force.

(3) The person in charge of every local police department, local
correctional facility, each county sheriff, the superintendent of the
division of the state police, the commissioner of the department of
corrections and community supervision, and the person in charge of every
agency that employs a peace officer in this state shall adopt and
implement a use of force policy in the agency of which they are in
charge. Such use of force policy shall be consistent with the model law
enforcement use of force policy established pursuant to this
subdivision, except that such departments, county sheriffs,
superintendent, commissioner and agencies that employ a peace officer
may impose further and additional restrictions on the use of force, in
such use of force policy or otherwise.

(4) The model law enforcement use of force policy and every use of
force policy established pursuant to subparagraph three of this
paragraph shall be a public document, and shall be made available
without charge to any member of the public promptly upon request. Each
such current use of force policy shall be conspicuously posted on the
public website of the agency that adopted it. Revisions to such use of
force policies shall be updated on the agency's public website within
seventy-two hours of approval of any amendment.

5. The council shall, in addition:

(a) Develop, maintain and disseminate, in consultation with the
commissioner of the office for people with developmental disabilities,
written policies and procedures consistent with section 13.43 of the
mental hygiene law, regarding the handling of emergency situations
involving individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other
developmental disabilities. Such policies and procedures shall make
provisions for the education and training of new and veteran police
officers on the handling of emergency situations involving individuals
with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities; and

(b) Recommend to the governor, rules and regulations with respect to
the establishment and implementation on an ongoing basis of a training
program for all current and new police officers regarding the policies
and procedures established pursuant to this subdivision, along with
recommendations for periodic retraining of police officers.

6. The council shall, in addition:

(a) Develop, maintain and disseminate, in consultation with the
division of human rights and the hate crime task force established
pursuant to section two hundred sixteen of this chapter, written
policies and procedures regarding the recognition of and response to
hate crimes, as defined in article four hundred eighty-five of the penal
law. Such policies and procedures shall make provisions for the
education and training of new and veteran police officers on the
recognition of and response to hate crimes; and

(b) Recommend to the governor, rules and regulations with respect to
the establishment and implementation on an ongoing basis of a training
program for all current and new police officers regarding the policies
and procedures established pursuant to this subdivision, along with
recommendations for periodic retraining of police officers. Such
recommended rules and recommendations shall also be submitted to the
temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly.

7. The council shall, in addition:

(a) Develop, maintain and disseminate, in collaboration with the
office of victim services, a model law enforcement death notification
policy setting forth recommended policies and procedures regarding
in-person death notifications to a deceased individual's next of kin.
Such policies and procedures shall make provisions for education and
training of current and new police officers in the planning,
preparation, and delivery of in-person death notifications, including
but not limited to, policies and procedures for:

(i) the identification of the deceased individual, the collection of
accurate information regarding the deceased individual, and the
identification of the deceased individual's next of kin; and

(ii) the actual delivery of in-person death notifications to the
deceased's next of kin within twenty-four hours following the
identification of such individual; provided, however, such policies and
procedures shall provide that, in the event that an in-person death
notification cannot be provided to the deceased individual's next of kin
within such timeframe, the failure or delay of such notification shall
be documented and such notification shall instead be made as soon as
practicable.

(b) Recommend to the governor rules and regulations with respect to
the establishment and implementation on an ongoing basis of a training
program for all current and new police officers regarding the policies
and procedures established pursuant to this subdivision, along with
recommendations for periodic retraining of police officers.

(c) Disseminate the model law enforcement death notification policy
promulgated in accordance with this subdivision to all police
departments in this state and develop a model training program for all
current and new police officers regarding the policies and procedures
established pursuant to such subdivision.

§ 841. Functions, powers and duties of the commissioner with respect
to the council. In addition to the functions, powers and duties
otherwise provided by this article, the commissioner shall, with the
general advice of the council, and, in the case of subdivisions one, two
and three of this section, only in accordance with rules and regulations
promulgated by the governor pursuant to section eight hundred forty-two
of this article:

1. Approve police training schools administered by municipalities and
issue certificates of approval to such schools, and revoke such approval
or certificate;

1-a. Approve correctional training programs administered by
municipalities and issue certificates of approval to such programs, and
revoke such approval or certificate;

2. Certify, as qualified, instructors at approved police training
schools and issue appropriate certificates to such instructors;

2-a. Certify, as qualified, instructors at approved correctional
training programs and issue appropriate certificates to such
instructors;

3. Certify police officers and peace officers who have satisfactorily
completed basic training programs and issue certificates to such police
officers and peace officers, including the issuance of equivalency
certificates for basic training certificates issued to peace officers,
where such officers received a certificate for successful completion of
a basic training for police officers program or an approved course for
state university of New York public safety officers during a period in
which such peace officer was not employed as a police officer, upon
demonstration of adequate equivalent training, the completion of
supervised field training, requisite job-related law enforcement
experience as determined by the commissioner, and if deemed necessary,
the successful completion of relevant police officer training courses
pursuant to section two hundred nine-q of the general municipal law;

3-a. Certify correction officers who have satisfactorily completed
basic correctional training programs and issue certificates to such
correction officers;

4. Cause studies and surveys to be made relating to the establishment,
operation and approval of municipal police training schools and
correctional training programs;

5. Consult with and cooperate with municipal police training schools
and correctional training programs for the development of advanced
in-service training programs for police officers, peace officers, and
correction officers and issue appropriate certificates to police
officers, peace officers, and correction officers, attesting to their
satisfactory completion of such advanced training programs;

6. Consult with and cooperate with universities, colleges and
institutes in the state for the development of specialized courses of
study for police officers, peace officers, and correction officers in
police science, police administration, and criminal justice;

7. Consult with and cooperate with other departments and agencies of
the state concerned with police officer and peace officer training;

7-a. Consult with and cooperate with the state commission of
correction and other departments and agencies of the state concerned
with correction officer training;

7-b. Take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that all police
officers and peace officers certified pursuant to subdivision three of
this section receive appropriate instruction regarding section 60.49 of
the criminal procedure law relating to the introduction of opioid
antagonists into evidence in certain cases.

8. Report to the council at each regular meeting of the council and at
such other times as may be appropriate; and

9. Prepare, update and distribute to appropriate law enforcement
officials the form and content of the written notice required to be
given to victims of family offenses pursuant to subdivision five of
section eight hundred twelve of the family court act and subdivision six
of section 530.11 of the criminal procedure law.

The Council meets at least four times a year. Meetings occur at the Alfred E. Smith State Office Building, 80 South Swan St., Albany, N.Y., and are live-streamed.

Upcoming Meetings

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024

Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024

View meeting materials and live-stream information

Members are not compensated for their service. The Division of Criminal Justice Services pays travel expenses for members to attend meetings.

• FY23: $2,560
• FY 24: $1,920 (as of 10-15-2023)
• FY 25: $2,500 (projected)

Joshua Vinehout

Office of Public Safety Law Enforcement Training Unit

New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services

80 South Swan St., Albany, N.Y. 12210

518-457-2667

Media inquiries should be directed to [email protected] or 518-457-8828.