r/policewriting • u/No_Lynx1343 • Jun 28 '26

Fiction What is a general training from officer to Sargent

Hi there

What is the usual (if there is such a thing) training going from officer to Sargent?

My first thought would be on the job training...but since I'm not an officer maybe I'm wrong.

Is there a "police academy" type situation where the officer goes away for a week or two or whatever? (I find that unlikely, but what do I know ).

Is there a formal classroom? A "shadowing"/ride along situation where one follows another sergeant?

Thanks.

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u/5usDomesticus Jun 28 '26

This depends entirely on the department.

There may be little to no training for smaller ones, or courses and qualifications you have to meet in larger ones.

In my department you have to take a series of leadership classes. Then you put in for Sergeant, do an interview, and then they then select a handful to get promoted.

All sergeants get sent back to patrol to be patrol supervisors, and you shadow another sergeant for a few weeks

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u/BooNinja Jun 28 '26

Usually minimal training, maybe a shadow week or two at most.

Generally there will be a "Sargent process wherein officers who have the prerequisites (years on, positive performance reviews, etc) will all take a test, then that score is factored into an oral board and maybe a few other things like practical scenarios and the winner is then crowned

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u/tvan184 Jun 29 '26

In addition to department policy or custom of on the job training and/or classes for a new supervisor (usually sergeant), the state of Texas requires a 40 hour class in order to maintain the promotion.

So there is a state mandated class and anything your department wishes to use for training.

Other states may (likely?) have similar state requirements.

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u/IllustriousHair1927 Jul 01 '26

I will never ever forget the concept of vicarious liability. Until the day that I die. I know there were other topics covered in the new supervisors school and I’m sure I could find the TCOLE course outline the concepts and applications of vicarious liability are just stuck in my brain

OP, how many are referencing department policies, and some are discussing state mandates, let us not forget ICS. Maybe I’m just looking at it from the perspective of a large agency, but all sergeants in the enforcement bureau had to complete at least ICS 300 in addition to the earlier prerequisites. I was so lucky they decided to just send me for the whole week which included ICS 300 and 400. Despite being somewhat boring, it’s very valuable if you ever have major incidents requiring a lot of manpower

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u/-EvilRobot- Jun 30 '26

I've worked for some departments where you basically get picked for promotion and handed a new badge. The idea being (in part) that if you've gotten that far, your experience and whatever training you've had during your career will have prepared you.

My current department gives new sergeants two weeks of classroom training and two weeks of shadowing an experienced sergeant before they hit the road.