Our Training

The Vallejo Police Department is committed to taking actionable steps to promote effective crime reduction and build public trust. As part of the Vallejo Police Department’s dedication to building trust with the community and applying safe and effective policing practices, we require advanced training for all our officers each year. 

There are typically six training cycles each year, as shown below. VPD provides regular training, marked with asterisks, on fundamental tactics and skills to ensure continued proficiency. In addition, VPD brings in outside vendors to provide specialized training on specific focus areas, as shown in the 2021 calendar year schedule:

2021 Training Schedule:

*Training by VPD on fundamental tactics and skills

As you see in the schedule, in 2021 we implemented new training centered around crisis intervention, fair and impartial policing, cultural diversity, and principled policing. By investing in continuous education and training for our officers, we can work better together for the safety of the Vallejo community. 

2021 Priority Areas For VPD Training

1. Crisis Intervention and De-escalation

VPD’s officers undergo comprehensive training on crisis intervention and de-escalation in order to reduce the use of unnecessary force. The VPD is regularly equipped with the knowledge and techniques of the most current methodologies on conflict diffusion and voluntary compliance and cooperation from hostile, uncooperative, or emotionally upset individuals. 

It is a priority to the VPD to maintain sound officer safety tactics that protect both our team members and individuals who may be suffering with mental illness or an affected mental state. As such, our team is trained to identify people with mental illness and effectively assess the situation, communicate with the person, and utilize de-escalation techniques to resolve the incident safely. 

2. Fair & impartial policing

VPD firmly believes in the principles of equal justice under the law and agrees that there is no place for discrimination in police practices. Fair and impartial policing is a pillar of our success in protecting the community as a police force. 

VPD officers have undergone bias training informed by contemporary and evidence based methodologies, which help our team recognize people’s implicit biases, identify how biases can negatively impact our legitimacy and efficacy as law enforcement officers, and implement unbiased behavioral responses in the field. 

3. Cultural Diversity

Cultural competency is vital to the health and success of police work, and VPD’s cultural diversity training ensures that our force understands the community we serve. This allows us to improve our ability to foster strong police-community relationships, facilitate collaboration, and increase cooperation.

The training involves an enhanced understanding and awareness of the diversity within our communities and the root causes of prejudice and intolerance in society. VPD is committed to creating a culture in policing that coexists with the diversity that exists within and enhances our Vallejo community. 

4. Principled Policing

VPD trains our officers based on the principles of procedural justice because we believe that when officers engage in fair and respectful treatment, the public is more likely to view their authority as legitimate, as principled policing improves the trust between law enforcement agencies and their communities. 

We teach policing approaches that emphasize respect, listening, neutrality and trust, while also addressing the implicit biases that may be a barrier to these approaches. VPD continually evaluates our policies, procedures and training within our departments to ensure that we are applying principled policing practices.

5. History of Policing

In March 2021, the Vallejo Police Department hosted its first-ever “History of Policing Course” to examine the historical and contemporary issues facing law enforcement. The one-day training explored several high-profile events in policing and the perception of law enforcement through the lens of marginalized communities. The course aimed to increase awareness of relevant theory, statute, case law, and emphasize the essential sources of constitutional authority. Overall, the training sought to help officers develop cultural competency and better identify, articulate and respond to community challenges. Presentations were provided by San Jose State University Professor Greg Woods and Reverend Dr. Dante Quick.